Hi everyone, thank you for the reviews.

Hope you enjoy this chapter, I'll hopefully have another one posted some point this week :) x

"I'll tell you Rachel. But not here, not now."

"Let's go home then. I'm not letting you bury your head in the sand anymore mum."

Rachel had anticipated a refusal from Susan, instead though, she was witness to a reluctant nod from her mother. It wasn't much, but it was more than she was expecting. Rachel was just glad to be taking a step closer to the truth.

As Eddie re-entered the pub to collect Philip, and Susan made her way over to the car, Rachel was left to reflect on recent minutes. The way Eddie had risen to her defence when Graeme's presence was made known had warmed Rachel's heart. As ever, Eddie seemed to be having that effect on her. He was the one by her side 24/7, the one she could always turn to. The past few weeks had accentuated that immensely. Eddie's steadfast support, along with the realisation that he was the one she could always turn to, had Rachel deciding that she couldn't let him go again, not ever. Perhaps soon, she would be ready to return to where they once were.

Weirdly, the man himself returned subsequent to Rachel's thoughts.

"You ready Rach?" Eddie queried softly, placing a light hand on her shoulder.

She turned to face him, offering a nod and a small smile, "where's Philip?"

"He wants to stay here for a bit. Your aunt Grace is going to drop him off later."

"It's probably for the best really. I mean, goodness knows what my mum's about to confess to. The poor lad has been through enough."

Eddie sighed, "so have you. You've got to look after yourself too Rachel."

"Eddie...I'm not a priority, not right now."

"You are to me."

Rachel smiled before brushing his cheek lightly with her thumb, "and I'm forever grateful for that. I just... need to get to the bottom of everything with my mum."

"And I'm there for you every step of the way. Come on, let's get going."

….

"It all started the night… when he erm..."

"When he assaulted you?" Rachel intervened lightly, comprehending how difficult this must be for her mother. Especially when she had been trying her hardest to brush Graeme's abuse under the carpet.

Susan nodded, glancing between both Rachel and Eddie. Eddie had offered to give the two women some space, even though he had been torn - he wanted to be there for Rachel first and foremost. To his slight surprise, Susan had asked him to stay. Something in her eyes had told Eddie that she saw everything which surrounded his and Rachel's past. Eddie found himself wondering just how much she had worked out.

"That's when he said it. Threatened me."

Rachel shared a look with Eddie, hoping his calming presence would lower her nerves. Graeme was capable of pretty much anything, so Rachel's mind was sent into overdrive upon assessing the endless amounts of possibilities.

"Said what mum? What did he say?"

Upon noting the shakiness evident in Rachel's voice, Eddie discreetly took hold of her hand, hidden with the float of her skirt. It seemed to be a recurring thing in recent weeks, holding Rachel's hand out of sight. It had taken his mind back to one of the evenings with Rachel which he would never forget. That particular day, Rachel had expressed her concerns surrounding the publicity of their relationship, having her private life open to discussion was not something which Rachel welcomed. Eddie understood that completely, but that didn't mean his happiness hadn't sky rocketed when she had decided to go public, and more importantly took hold of his hand in the playground.

Rachel giving his hand a squeeze before her mum began to speak removed Eddie from his reverie. Despite the current situation, Eddie's heart soared when she didn't remove her hand. Their fingers remained well and truly interlocked.

"This is far from easy to say, and I'm sorry… but it's not going to be easy for you to hear either."

"Mum, I.. I completely understand that. I get that whatever he said won't have been pleasant. But I need to know."

"Yes… yes you do," Susan's hesitation was clear, and yet Rachel was sure that they were gradually getting somewhere, "he told me that if I went to the police, he would make sure that Philip and… and Isabelle would live a life from hell."

Both Rachel and Eddie froze at the mention of Phil and Isabelle, and seemed to hold onto each other significantly tighter. Even as Rachel felt suffocated by her mother's declaration, she could tell that she was still holding something back. Susan's eyes were darting all over the place, she couldn't meet neither Eddie nor Rachel's gaze. There was more to this.

Taking a deep breath, Rachel managed to compose herself, "what else did he say?"

"That was all…" Susan exhaled and stopped herself once she saw the way both Eddie and Rachel were looking at her. They weren't going to let this lie without uncovering absolutely everything, "you're right Rachel. Graeme did say something else. Another threat, he said he would… kill you. He said he would kill you. More specifically, he said that you wouldn't live another day."

Eddie had been riled previously, when Susan mentioned Graeme's threats towards Isabelle and Philip. But he had tried his utmost, to keep his composure for the sake of Rachel. Now though, Eddie's lid had been flipped, this was the final straw.

Instantly he sprang up from the couch, flinging his arms up in the air.

"I'm sorry but I'm not having this. Something needs to be done. That man needs to pay for his actions, for these threats he's made."

Within an instant, Rachel had risen to his level, offering a supportive arm in the hope of settling his understandable anger. God knows, she was just as furious.

"Let's just think about this rationally for a moment Eddie. Believe me, with Graeme, going in all guns blazing isn't going to get him to back down."

For a moment, Eddie seemed as if he wasn't going to let this go. Then though, Rachel gave his arm a gentle squeeze and he appeared to relax instantly. Sure enough, he exhaled loudly and nodded, giving Rachel a small but grateful smile.

It was then that Susan stood too, having sat back and watched their brief discussion unfold.

"I'm so sorry Rachel, and you Eddie. That I didn't mention something sooner. I was just, am just awfully worried about his next moves."

"Come on mum, come here," Rachel began, wrapping her arms around Susan, "I do wish that you had told us sooner, but I completely understand why you didn't. You're scared, and so am I. We all know what Graeme is capable of."

As Rachel's voice broke when she finished off her sentence, she felt a reassuring hand rub up and down her back. Yet again, Eddie's endless support was well and truly present. Rachel found herself questioning how she had managed to watch him walk away back in July.

"What do we do now?" Susan said upon pulling away several moments later.

Rachel noted her mother's tear stained cheeks and swiped the salty residue away. Both for Susan's benefit and her own. Rachel wasn't sure if she knew the answer to that question right now either. She needed time to truly think about this, but she wasn't sure if they would have any time at all. Graeme had to be stopped soon, time was currently sparse.

"Our best option is to go to the police," spoke Eddie, before Rachel could gather her thoughts.

Susan was evidently unsure about his suggestion, and so was Rachel. Eddie was right though, it was their only option, their best option.

"I think Eddie's right mum. Thinking about it, look at all the instances we have to back this up. The police are aware of your recent assault, they have plenty of evidence. Surely, if you go to them and confess, they are going to arrest him. He's not going to be anywhere near us then is he."

Susan nodded shakily, her demeanour still showing hallmarks of concern and anxiety.

"And if we inform the police of his threats," Eddie began, "then he doesn't have a leg to stand on."

"It's late now," Susan responded, and Rachel found herself worrying that her mother had no intentions of going to the police. It was only just approaching 8 o'clock, "can we sleep on this and I'll go, to the police. In the morning."

Rachel and Eddie exchanged a glance, once again communicating their thoughts in silence. Realising that this was the best possible agreement, and all her and Eddie were going to get from Susan, Rachel gave in.

"Okay. But tomorrow mum, it has to be done. Eddie and I… we will be there for you every step of the way. You are not alone, I promise."

Susan rubbed her eyes, removing almost all evidence of her upset. She approached Rachel and Eddie slowly, before wrapping each of her arms around them both.

"Both of you, thank you, so much."

….

Having collected Isabelle from Eddie's dad's house, Rachel and Eddie had waited on the arrival of Philip. Shortly after 9, Grace had dropped him off. Both Rachel and Eddie had taken some time to talk to him, and explain some of what had been going on. Reassuring the two adults that he was indeed okay, Philip retreated to his bedroom. With Isabelle and Susan asleep, Rachel and Eddie were left in the living room along with two mugs of coffee.

"I'm sorry for how I reacted earlier. Going off on one about Graeme," Eddie said, placing his cup down on a nearby cabinet.

Rachel sat forwards once his words had registered and momentarily met Eddie's gaze.

"You have got absolutely nothing to apologise for. You have every right to be angry. I'm angry Eddie, I'm furious with Graeme - my father, believe it or not - for putting us all in this situation."

"I wish you'd had a proper father Rachel. You deserve that more than anyone."

Rachel smiled, tilting her head slightly to assess the way Eddie was currently looking at her. His brown orbs were full of love and contentment, and the way they glanced over Rachel's whole face took her breath away.

For now, these thoughts accumulating in Rachel's brain were put to one side as Eddie spoke once more.

"One of the reasons why, I got so furious earlier, was the thought of losing you again Rachel. It can't happen. I need you. I love you."

Upon hearing Eddie's words, Rachel's heart seemed to explode with adoration. It almost felt surreal, that Eddie's thoughts now, aligned perfectly to her earlier musings. For Rachel, it just confirmed that she was ready. She was ready to once more take the next step with Eddie, and put the past few months behind them.

Both Rachel's own eyes and Eddie's, glanced towards one another's lips and that seemed to highlight everything that they both wanted. Rachel leant forwards slightly, closing the small gap between them. Their lips met instantly, with Eddie responding at an even quicker pace. Any doubts in their minds about the timing of their kiss were discarded, both parties were too lost in one another, and just how right this felt. The exchange began rather slow and tender, with Rachel and Eddie reacquainting themselves with everything they had cherished in their past relationship. Soon though, passion engulfed the pair and their kisses became urgent.

When Rachel felt the need for oxygen, she pulled away slightly. Resting her forehead against Eddie's, and ensuring that their lips still brushed, Rachel reciprocated Eddie's earlier comments.

"I need you Eddie… and I most definitely love you. I want to make this work."