Thank you for the reviews.

Now, this seems like a bit of a time jump... although maybe that was the last chapter and I didn't realise... honestly, I don't know what the timeline of this story really is and I don't think the show did at times...

The line is from another Chainsmokers song (have we got the theme for this fic?) called Call You Mine. I believe it is more a song about past lovers but I think it works just as well here as well.

Do I have to put a warning at the beginning of every chapter now? Just because it doesn't really stop from here. The Reddie cuteness that is...

Chapter Twenty
Can I Call You Mine?

"Eddie, you are going to have to do up another button on your shirt?"

"Not my fault someone decided to give me a hickey."

"Well, you shouldn't have mentioned Melissa."

They smiled at each other as Tom walked into her office. Rachel was glad that they were already at a professional distance from each other but she already suspected that Tom had noticed their change in behaviour around each other.

"How was the double date?" Tom asked as he sat down on the sofa.

Rachel was glad that Eddie groaned as she rolled her eyes. They joined him on the sofas, knowing that they weren't there to discuss that but knew that it was going to be discussed now.

"That well then?" Tom continued.

"I am still waiting for the questions as to where we got to." Rachel said. "Philip told me last night that she didn't get into until six that morning."

She could tell that Tom was trying to hide a smile but failing at it.

"Tom?"

"Melissa may have mentioned the date that you had the other week. I may have said that it was with Eddie, something that Melissa is certain would never happen. I just assumed."

Rachel turned to Eddie before looking back at Tom.

"Your assumption is right. But it is early days."

"I think it is going well," Eddie added.

"Me too."

"I'm happy for the both of you. Plus… I may have mentioned a couple of things about your relationship to Davina. Not the whole Stuart Hordley thing but the little things. Like the way you have been and all that." He paused. "Everyone thinks I have insider information and I mean, they are right but…"

"That is the problem with being in the inner circle." Rachel said. "Right, now that is over and done with, the Kellys?"

He knew it was a little risky with the door still being open but Eddie couldn't help himself as he crept up on Rachel and wrapped his arms around her waist. She took a sharp intake of breath before she realised that it was him.

"Dear god Eddie."

He placed a kiss below her ear. "Did I surprise you?"

"Well, I wondered who the hell it might have been."

"I've decided something and I think I need your take on it before I do it."

She twisted in his arms to look at him. "My take on what?"

"I'm going to tell Melissa that I am seeing someone. I want to say you but you are right, she won't believe either of us if we tell her. I just want her to know that I am not single."

"I don't know whether she is going to believe you but it is worth a shot."

"I enjoyed the weekend."

"So did I."

"I can't wait until I can call you mine."

"How do you mean?"

He gave a short laugh. "I mean, I can't wait for the moment that I can introduce you to people as my girlfriend as opposed to my boss."

There was a sparkle in her eye and he knew that she felt the same way that he did. She slid her hands up his arms and latched them behind his neck to bring his head closer to hers. He still allowed her to set the pace of everything they did. The kiss was slow but it felt natural that is was that speed.

The bell broke the kiss and she patted his arms as he let her go.

"I think I have finally found a lipstick that doesn't rub off on you."

"Good because Steph has already seen the hickey."

She bit her lip. "Sorry."

"Don't apologise. I quite liked possessive Rachel."

"Good."

"I'm going to find Melissa and then I am going to be back here as soon as I can."

"Round two then."

"Honestly Mason, you make it hard for me to have any professional thoughts around you."

"Go on. Go."

He didn't miss the way that she smiled at him. Her smile was definitely the most beautiful part of her and he was glad that he was the one that could make her happy.

"Melissa, can I have a word?" Eddie said, interrupting her conversation with Davina and Jasmine.

He was glad that Tom had said something about Davina knowing more. The way that she smiled confirmed to him that the hickey was the talking point of the staffroom.

"Sure. Just… Is it true?" Melissa said.

"Is what true?"

"The hickey."

He moved his shirt to expose it. "Happy?"

Davina and Jasmine looked rather happy at the sight of it. Melissa didn't and Eddie was grateful when she waited for the other two to leave before she said anything.

"Not really. I thought that we were getting on well."

"Melissa…"

"No so you slink off to some person that Rachel hasn't told me about and she goes to be with her man. It is like you both didn't want to be there."

Eddie really didn't know what Melissa was thinking. Was it really that hard to work out?

"I think Rachel was right when she said that she didn't have to tell you everything about my life."

"It is this person that you have liked for a while?"

"It is."

"How long?"

"Melissa, I don't really think that I have to answer that."

"Just is it early days?"

"It is but it is going extremely well and I can't wait until she feels a little more comfortable about the whole situation."

"Just think where we would be now."

"Melissa. Professionally, this needs to stop. I'm trying to be nice…"

"Nice?"

"But I don't want you to ruin the good thing that I have."

"At least you aren't the perfect guy that I thought you were."

Eddie huffed as she left. He had no idea what her problem was but he hoped that he hadn't now made things worse for Rachel.

"What the hell did you say to her?"

"I only told her that professionally, it needed to stop and that I didn't want her ruining the good thing that I have."

"Well for the moment you have a black mark against your name."

"I really don't think the hickey helped."

"Obviously wasn't one of my brightest ideas."

"Maybe I should give you a matching one. Maybe then she will work it out."

"Eddie."

"Rach, I'm serious."

She turned to him and looked up at him. "I know you are."

"Something else has happened."

"Adam and Melissa have come up with this amazing idea to start a breakfast club. To start on Adam's first day."

"Because that idea is going to go down great with Candice and Rose. Really? The first day back after Christmas?"

"I've already had to try and convince them. Honestly, I am so close to telling Adam and Melissa that they will have to run it themselves. I can't fall out with Candice and Rose. Especially when Rose needs this."

"What does that mean?"

Rachel sighed as they both stopped walking and turned to each other.

"I've had their social worker on the phone. She is so close to losing them. And with poor Denzil in prison… I think the last thing Rose wants this Christmas is to spend it alone with the kids in foster care."

"I don't really know how you can help her more."

"I would just like to know where the hell Denzil got that gun from. Where could an 11-year-old get a gun from?"

"If you want it, you can get it."

"I know."

"You are trying to distract yourself."

"How do you mean?"

"You don't want to think that on Friday, we are going to break for Christmas and you will have to deal with Melissa 24/7."

"Why can't I spend Christmas with you instead?"

"That sounds like a much better deal."

She took a step closer to him. "When are you free?"

"Why?"

"Just… It isn't like you haven't turned up, somewhat, unannounced before. Maybe I want to spend some time over Christmas with my boyfriend."

"Boyfriend?"

"I thought you wanted to be English."

She loved the way that he smiled at her after he looked down the corridor to make sure that they were alone. Rachel was finding herself becoming so relaxed in his company, that she found herself not caring if anyone caught them as he kissed her.

The last day of term always meant a drink at the local and there was more than enough Christmas cheer to go around them all. Not that Rachel was overly happy when Melissa invited Adam along as well but Melissa did have a good argument. He did deserve to get to know the staff a bit before he started.

Yet Rachel found herself feeling rather relaxed as they all laughed at Tom's joke. She leant back in her chair and smiled as she felt Eddie's arm resting along the back of her chair.

"Come on then Rachel. Spill." Steph said, drunkenly.

"Spill what?"

"Where do you and Mr Lawson stand?"

"Steph!"

"Well, we are all wondering it. You know that he didn't leave your bedside after the fire."

"And Tom couldn't keep up with him as they were trying to find where you had been taken," Grantly said, joining in.

"Or that he was the one to actually carry you out of the school."

Rachel gave a small laugh. "I did know. Told many times how grateful I should be to have him by my side. Just about remember waking up and you being there." She said as she turned to Eddie.

She wondered when he was going to tell her that he was the one to get her to safety. Obviously not one to play the hero card.

"I couldn't leave you on your own again," Eddie said.

"And I am grateful."

Rachel was certain that she had heard Melissa scoffing but she didn't really care as the conversation luckily moved on. Everyone seemed to end up going off into their little groups as the night started to go on. She looked around and noticed the weird groups that form.

Tom and Davina were chatting to Rob and Jasmine, who she suspected were a little closer than they were at the beginning of the year. Not that Rachel would let Eddie find that out just yet. He was weirdly protective of their youngest member of staff. Maybe because the more experienced members of staff had taken advantage of that.

Steph, Matt and Grantley were off probably gossiping about something or other. Probably about her and Eddie. Not that she found herself caring that much about it. Eddie was right. They would talk and it wasn't like it wasn't the truth now. She knew that Eddie would bring up the fact that maybe they should tell the staff again but she knew that it would happen in her own time. Maybe sooner than she would expect by how comfortable he made her feel.

Melissa and Adam had disappeared somewhere. Not that Rachel really cared.

It did mean that when Eddie returned to her side, he was the only one that she could talk to without breaking into a group that was already formed.

"What?" He said once he noticed her staring.

"It seems like it is just you and me."

"So it does."

"I may have promised Philip that I would come home but that doesn't stop us sneaking off now. Bearing in mind, I won't see you now until the 28th."

"What am I going to do with you, Mason?"

She leant forward to whisper in his ear.

"I can think of quite a few things I want you to do to me."

Eddie swallowed loudly and finished his pint off in record speed. They quickly made their goodbyes, wishing everyone a good Christmas and a Happy New Year. It was as they waited for the taxi that Rachel found herself in Eddie's arms, kissing him. She was certain that someone was bound to see them, but like earlier that week, she found herself not caring one bit. She knew that it should scare her to feel this open. She had never felt like this about anyone before.

"I love you." She said as they parted.

She didn't completely understand why the words fell out of her mouth at that moment but she knew that she would always remember the way that he smiled at her before he spoke.

"I love you too."