Thank you for the reviews.

Remember how soppy I made pregnant!Rachel the first time around... She is still soppy as now... So some cuteness coming up... Although you always seem to get theses sort of chapters on a Tuesday. I am not saying that they would be any better any other day of the week... Just you will have to wait a little bit longer for the chapter tomorrow. Although I promise you. Chapter 38 is definitely worth the wait. Trust me.

Chapter Thirty Seven
The Week From Hell

"Why do you have to go?" Rachel said as she sat on the edge of the bed as Eddie packed his bag.

"Because I have been told to. We should be grateful that Max is sending Chris as well. That way we know he isn't just doing it because I am sleeping with the boss. Unless you aren't telling me something."

"I think Chris is a little young for me."

"I wouldn't blame you. He does have quite the fan club."

"Maybe I should talk to him about that."

Eddie looked up at her. "I am sure you will know all about the conference because I will be texting you constantly."

"And Philip as well."

"Someone has to make sure you are looking after yourself."

"This week is going to be torture."

"It is only a week."

"A week of just Max and Kim. It is a week without you."

He laughed. "I forgot how soppy you got when you are pregnant."

"Well, that is your fault."

"I don't mind shouldering that blame." He said as he leant over to her to give her a kiss. "We will tell them next week."

"I was just ready to tell everyone this week. I want to scream it from the rooftops."

"Pregnancy definitely changes you."

"For the better, I hope."

"Definitely for the better."

She pulled on his top to bring him on top of her as she lied down on the bed. Before he could argue with her or say that he needed to pack, she pressed her lips against his, trying to show him rather than tell him how much she was going to miss him in the week and how much she would rather him just stay at home with her. She knew that he wouldn't protest. He didn't want to go.

"You are going to be the death of me Mason."

"I can think of worse ways to go." She paused. "Do you remember the conversation we had about… proposing and getting married?"

"Yeah." He said hesitantly.

"Were you being serious when you said you wouldn't be surprised if I proposed to you?"

"Can we just remember how you invited me on our first date?"

"I suppose. Just… obviously it is more traditional for a woman to propose on 29th February. We would have to wait another two years for that."

"Are you just proposing the idea that it could happen sooner rather than later?"

"I… am just saying that… if you want to, I will leave it up to you to propose."

"Well… I might just think about that."

"Might you now."

She couldn't stop herself from giggling as Eddie started to kiss down her jaw and neck. Sometimes he just did something to remind her about how much she loved him. She wasn't ready to spend any time away from him. It was going to be the week from hell purely because Eddie wasn't going to be there.

Rachel found herself blinking at Max as she tried to work out whether he was just stupid or he did just think really highly of himself. It might have also been the fact that Eddie hadn't been there to wind him up and therefore, the meeting that they were having seemed to be dragging.

"I'm sorry. You want an open day by the end of the week. Max, it's Tuesday. That is going to take a lot of planning and bearing in mind you have shipped Eddie and Chris away on that conference. And what parents are going to get the time off so late? There will only be a few parents that can turn up."

"I have been talking about this for a while."

"Not to me."

"Max, you mentioned it to me but I thought that we were going to discuss it before anything was decided," Kim said.

"Best strike now," Max said. "Anyway, it will be just an afternoon thing. Meaning we have time to prep in the morning. I am sure with… less distractions, things will run a lot more smoothly."

"Luckily you have Rachel sitting in front of you."

Rachel gave Kim a small smile. She was grateful for anything that she said to Max to rebut his accusations that she was distracted by Eddie and that their relationship was unprofessional.

"I'm sorry?"

"Rachel isn't distracted. Jack, on the other hand… I would have no problems saying that he was distracted most of the time."

"Right. So we address the staff later, once you've drawn up some plans this morning." Max said as he stood up. "You'll have to excuse me. I have business at one of the other schools. I will be back at lunch."

Don't come back at all. Rachel thought but gave him a polite smile. So he was leaving her with all the legwork and would take the glory in the end. Another of those situations.

"Thanks for that Kim." Rachel said after she was certain Max had gone.

"I mean, you do have a reason to be slightly distracted at the moment."

"Not really. The morning sickness has died down." She paused. "I actually remember feeling this way with Keria. Just so happy that part of it is done."

"Keria?"

"Eddie named her. It does feel slightly better to call her by a name rather than it or the pregnancy. It was a gut feeling that it was going to be a girl. She was only 13 weeks so we will never know. Had also told everyone by now."

"I was about to ask that."

"We were going to do it this week. I think it will be next week. Then you don't have to keep it a secret anymore."

"I think Steph has an inkling."

"I wouldn't put it past her. She was one of the reasons why I told everyone last time. Didn't want certain people to jump to their own conclusions." Rachel sighed. "So we have an open day to organise. Have you got a free period before lunch?"

"Second period."

"As Max has spoken to you about it, maybe we can come up with what he wants. I'll start thinking up some of my own ideas as well and hope me and Max come up with the same ideas."

"I know you still have your doubts about him Rachel, but he is a good guy once you get to know him."

Rachel didn't doubt that. It just depended on which side of him you were on. Kim was on one side and saw one side of him. Rachel was on the other side and saw a completely different side to him.

Rachel took a few deep breaths as she placed her hand on her stomach, trying to stop herself from being sick. Maybe, at the moment, it was a good thing that Max always wanted to take control of things. She thought she was doing okay as he started the opening speech but the sensation of feeling sick grew too much that the last thing she wanted to do was throw up in front of everyone. She suspected that it had something to do with how stuffy the hall was as the sensation died down as she stood in the corridor where it was a little cooler.

"Are you okay?"

She smiled at Tom as he walked up to her.

"I thought I was getting over the morning sickness. Turns out that I am not."

"I am told it gets better."

"I am waiting for that. I think it was just the heat of the hall and the lack of air. It is stuffy in there, isn't it?"

"A bit. We should probably open up the fire exit, let some air in."

"We are going to tell everyone. We planned to do it this week, but it doesn't seem right to announce it when Eddie isn't here."

"I understand."

"There you are."

They both turned to see Philip walking towards them. He handed her a bottle of water when he reached them.

"Someone has you well trained," Tom said.

"I don't think Eddie would be too impressed if I didn't look after her." Philip paused. "I mean Mr Lawson."

"Philip, you are with us, talking about a private matter. It can be Eddie. Any other time in school, then Mr Lawson." Rachel said.

"Come back in when you are ready. I'll get that door opened." Tom said as he started to leave them.

"Thanks, Tom." She called after him. "And thank you for the water."

"I've also got some of those biscuity things you've been eating in my pocket. If you want it."

"Did Eddie make you take a course over the weekend or something?"

"Not quite. He gave me a cheat sheet."

"Right."

"I'd better get back in there. Meant to be paired with Ros to take some of the parents around. Although I think Ros will be better at it than me."

"I think you will be fine. Go on. I will be fine."

She shook her head as she watched him go. It was like she said all those months ago. Her boys, looking out for her. She blamed the pregnancy as to why she became tearful at that point.

"Jennifer Headley, from the LEA." The woman said after she walked up to Rachel.

"Right, sorry. I must have missed you earlier."

"Max said you weren't feeling well."

"Yeah. Just got a little stuffy in the hall."

"I am taking over, basically in charge of the schools in the area."

"Right. Then… I suppose we could find somewhere a little more private. I… need to inform the LEA about something but it is not common knowledge yet."

After searching for a free from, Tom offered up his classroom and they made their way there.

"This isn't about Max is it?" Jennifer said.

"What about Max?"

"I… seem to have put my foot in it. I know Max can be hard to deal with. But you seem to be coping okay. And to pull an event off like this without the support of your deputy must have been tough."

"Deputies. Eddie and Chris." She paused. "It wasn't Max that I wanted to talk about. It's slightly more personal than that. I'm pregnant."

"Congratulations."

"Thank you."

"I guess this means that both you and Eddie will be wanting maternity and paternity leave."

"Most definitely."

"Due date?"

"12th August. I know. In the middle of the summer holidays. Not ideal but…"

"These things happen."

"The staff and Max don't know yet. We are going to announce it next week."

"And then you were going to inform the LEA?"

"Seems better to do it in person. As you are here."

"I will be in touch next week then, see what we can offer you both."

"Thank you." Rachel paused for the moment. "Why did you think that I wanted to talk about Max?"

"Just… Like I said. I know he can be hard to deal with. I don't agree with some of the comments that he is making about the school. He makes it sound like he is picking the school up when Jack did. We, at the LEA, know the great job you have done here."

"That is reassuring to know."

"Just keep up the good work and I will find out about maternity and paternity leave and what you are entitled to. Maybe we will even need to discuss whether Eddie and Chris would be happy to run the school instead of advertising for an acting head."

"Sounds like a plan."

If anything, her chat with Jennifer calmed some of her fears. At least the LEA knew that some of what Max was saying was lies. But she couldn't help but wonder how Jennifer knew him so well.

"Just 12 more hours and then Eddie is back." Rachel said as she finished dishing up dinner for both her and Philip.

"Have you been counting them down?"

"Since he left Sunday night. I miss him."

"You have spoken every day on the phone."

"Philip, I hope you find this one day. This feeling that you never want to be apart. Like… they are the other half of you. Maybe not making you whole but definitely the person that you always look forward to seeing. That they are the highlight of your day. That everything is either right or is going to be okay because they say it is."

"Then I am glad that whatever Adam and Mum were planning didn't work."

"So am I."

The doorbell rang and Philip looked as confused as she was about who could be on the other side. It was Friday night and she had already locked up because neither her or Philip were planning on going out and Eddie had a key if he had arrived home earlier. Unless he wanted to surprise her.

She told Philip to start eating before she made her way to the door. She unlocked it and was very surprised to see Max on the other side.

"What did you say?"

"What did I say to whom?"

"Jennifer. What did you say to her?"

"It was a private matter, Max."

"A private matter?"

"Yes. Nothing to concern you."

"Did you tell her that I was trying to push you out of the school?"

"I never…"

Max pushed on the door and it almost sent her flying. She didn't like the way that her back hit the wall of her hallway or how close Max was to her. Her hand instinctively went to her stomach, as if she was trying to shield the baby from him.

"I obviously haven't made it clear enough for you."

"Max…"

"What's going on here?" Philip said as he appeared from the kitchen.

"Hop it Ryan," Max said.

"Rach?"

She wanted to tell him to go back and leave her to sort this, but she didn't like how she was and she was grateful when Philip started to walk towards them.

"Max, get out of my house. I think you have done enough damage for one day."

"I am not going until you tell me what you said to Jennifer."

She felt like telling him that she was pregnant, just to get him off her back. But part of her worried that he was going to do something stupid. She never agreed with violence but she was glad that Philip pushed on Max's shoulder, turning him away from her. It reminded her of what Tom did for her when Stuart was threatening her just before the fire. She just had another man to jump to her defence.

"She said get out," Philip said.

"Decided to grow a pair. When did you do that Ryan?" Max said as he pushed him backwards. "And don't play the victim Rachel. It doesn't suit you."

Rachel felt like she couldn't close and lock the door quick enough. She stood there for a few moments before she turned to Philip.

"Not a word to Eddie." Rachel said.

"Why not? Rach…"

"Let me deal with Max in my own way. Trust me on this Philip."

Philip agreed but she could tell that he was reluctant to. The only problem was that Rachel didn't know that at the first opportunity Philip got, he would grab his phone and send a message that would be pretty much around the school before Monday morning.

DON'T LET MASON BE ALONE WITH TYLER!