Thank you for the reviews.

Sticking to the Chainsmokers theme, this chapter is named after a line from the song Something Just Like This... I mean I love that song so much and I do think it fits this chapter... and maybe a chapter you have been waiting for, for a while... Hopefully, it was worth the wait...

Chapter Thirty Eight
I Want Something Just Like This

Everything was okay.

It was something that Rachel told herself multiple times over the weekend and was on a constant chant as she walked into school on Monday morning.

Everything was okay because Eddie was by her side.

It was something she had to believe because if she didn't, she would start to panic and stress and that wasn't good for the baby. Especially after what Max had put her through on Friday night.

She could tell that Philip wanted to say something about it to Eddie but she was grateful that he hadn't. She knew how hot-headed Eddie had been around Stuart and, even how grateful she was for his contribution of trying to stop Stuart from hurting her more, she knew that the same methods wouldn't work on Max. To get rid of Max, it needed to be more calculating. Play him at his own game, sort of thing. Something that she knew Eddie wouldn't do.

Everything was okay because Eddie was by her side, smiling at her.

She found herself smiling back at him as they made their way to the staffroom to brief the staff of the week's events, which Max would take over doing, and to finally tell them that she was pregnant. It didn't surprise her to find Max, Kim and Chris already there and Max, wanting to get it over and done with quickly, sped through the announcements as soon as they arrived.

"Unless there is anything else?" He ended with.

"There is actually." Rachel said as she took a step forward. "I know that the rumour mill is probably already going but…" She held her hand out to Eddie and pulled him forward. "We would like to say that I am pregnant."

She waited for them to get their congratulations out of the way and she took a little bit of pleasure in seeing the look of horror on Max's face, realising that there was probably no need to threaten her. Part of her hoped he would eat humble pie and apologise to her.

"The LEA was informed on Friday and the due date is 12th August, meaning that, come September, I will be on maternity leave. Not ideal I know but it seems like they aren't going to advertise for an acting head so it will either be Eddie or Chris or both of them in charge. We just thought you should know."

Rachel found herself tucked into Eddie's side, feeling the happiest she had ever been.

"Where's Max?" Eddie said as he walked into her office.

"Sorting out some problem. I mean, do you not think it is weird how every fight or mishap seems to be caught by Max? Never by you or Chris or myself?"

"Maybe the trouble is following him."

"Maybe. This week has been especially bad. But as long as it keeps him out of my office, that is fine."

"Are you okay?"

It had been a question that he had asked a lot since he got back on Saturday morning and every time he asked it, the urge to tell him what Max had done grew.

"Just will be glad when the worst of this pregnancy is over. I would like to stop feeling sick."

"Are you sure it is just that? Both you and Philip have been acting rather strange this weekend."

"I am sure that is it with me. Philip, on the other hand, is a worrier and you made a worrier worry. You know he is always carrying around a bottle of water and snacks for me because of you. That boy is too much like me."

"Better that than like Melissa."

"I suppose."

"Just we did say something about not keeping secrets from each other and working through things together."

"It was… just something Jennifer said. She is from the LEA and now in charge of the schools in this area and she knows Max. She said that she knew Max can be hard to deal with but it seemed like I was coping well and that the LEA doesn't totally believe everything Max is telling them."

"So you have the LEA on side?"

"Slightly. Actually, she was going to call me this week about our maternity and paternity leave. I thought it was best to tell her as she was there."

"I don't mind Rachel. That part was always up to you." He paused. "Maybe I will talk to Philip and maybe we could go out Friday night."

"We haven't been out for a while."

"Exactly. Maybe we could ask Kim and Max along. Double date?"

"You dare and it will be you by yourself. I don't want to see Max any more than I already do."

"I was joking."

Rachel sighed, knowing he was. She had to remind herself to calm down. Because she would be telling Eddie what Max had done if she wasn't careful.

"I know. I'm sorry. Yes, let's go out Friday night and leave this place and the problems behind for one night."

"Don't worry, I'll pick somewhere appropriate."

There was always a chance something could go wrong. Eddie knew that and it was one of the reasons why he always kept the ring on him, whether he was at home or out. It just seemed that Rachel wouldn't find it that way and then he would be turning the house upside down as he tried to remember where he put it.

Tom had asked him about it after they announce the pregnancy to the staff. Eddie did wonder whether it would look weird if he proposed now. Whether he was only doing it because she was pregnant. It was the reason why he didn't do it before Christmas but now he felt like it might be the right time. They could have a long engagement and get married after the baby was born. It wouldn't matter to him, just as long as it happened in the end.

It was Friday when Tom told him that he should definitely go for it when they went out for dinner later and Eddie quickly replaced the box into his pocket as the staffroom started to fill up. Just not quick enough for Steph not to notice.

"What have you got there then Mr Lawson?"

"Steph, it really…" He said as he tried to stop her from getting it out of her pocket.

Somehow Steph did and it fell out of her hand as he reached to grab it. What he hadn't realised while he was on one knee, trying to get in from underneath one of the tables, Rachel had walked in with Chris. As he grabbed it and looked up to stand up, she was there in front of him, the box on show.

"I was… going to do this tonight." He said.

"Well, there is no time like the present." Steph unhelpfully said.

"Yeah, thanks Steph." He sighed. "I don't even know what to say."

Rachel laughed. "I don't expect you to be good with words. You are a maths teacher after all."

He laughed as he took a moment. "Rachel, I can't quite work out the moment I fell in love with you but I know why I fell in love with you. It was your strength and determination and kindness that seems to be endless. I suppose this also matches with everything else that has happened to us. The right moment but the wrong timing. I've allowed our relationship to go at your pace because I have wanted you to enjoy every single moment of it. I hope that I have lived up to all the promises that I have made to you and I hope to live up to the promises that I make to you in the future. Rachel Mason, will you marry me?"

If it was anyone else stood in front of him, he would have been more worried about her silence. But he watched as her smile grew with every word he said and it somehow managed to grow more as he waited for her answer.

"Not bad for a maths teacher." She said.

"I suppose not. So?"

"Yes."

"Yes?"

"Yes, I will marry you, Eddie Lawson."

The staffroom erupted in applause as he stood up and hugged her. The ring in his hand didn't matter as she kissed him. She had agreed to marry him. That was enough for him.

He knew that he would always remember the way that she giggled and how Tom was one of the first to congratulate them properly and how Max seemed to ruin it all.

"I suppose this calls for a little celebration… along with your other announcement earlier this week."

The only thing that put Eddie at ease was the way that Rachel was still smiling up at him. Everything was okay. He had no reason why he was so worried.

Rachel couldn't bear to pull herself away from Eddie's side as the champagne was handed out. She had already been handed an orange juice and she waved Philip over as he entered the staff room. She had managed to catch him earlier to invite him for the drinks. It was only fair that he was there too. He was an important part of her life. Plus she was still worried that he felt like he was a bit of an outsider to the life that she was creating with Eddie. She wanted him to be a part of the family.

"Here's to the new Mr and Mrs of Waterloo Road," Steph said.

There was another cheer and shouts of congratulations and it was the first time that Rachel realised that she had never been this happy before. After everything that had happened, she could finally say that she was happy, with a man that she knew loved her, a nephew who was becoming like her own and a baby on the way.

"Come on Rachel, your turn now. Eddie gave his speech earlier." Steph continued.

"Right." She said, realising that this was going to be the first speech that she made for a while that Max wasn't going to interrupt. "I think I can safely say that I couldn't have fallen for a better man. And I couldn't have asked for a better deputy nor a better boyfriend. You have been there, supporting me all the way. No matter what has been thrown at us. And you have. You have definitely kept your promises. I can safely say that I love you and you are one of two people that know me inside out. Thank you for never giving up on me."

"Like I would ever give up on you." He said as he kissed her.

Rachel had noticed how it seemed like Max wanted to say something and was finding it difficult to hold his tongue. She still was waiting for an apology from him for what happened at her house. Although she assumed that she would be waiting a while for it. He must be hating that she was taking all of the limelight for a change.

She tried to push Max out of her mind and focus on what had happened earlier that day. She could tell that Philip was nervous about being there and stuck to her a little. Whether that was because he didn't feel like he belonged there or because of what happened last week, she didn't know and she wasn't going to ask. The less she thought about last week the better.

"We should actually make a move," Eddie said as she spoke to Davina.

She nodded at him before telling Davina to have a good weekend and she would see her on Monday.

It shouldn't have really surprised her to see that both Steph and Grantly were a little bit worse for wear than everyone else as they passed them.

"Oi Rachel, thanks for winning me quite the packet," Steph said.

"Sorry?"

"Ah… Well, we all place bets every year on who we think are going to get together in the staffroom. Kim will tell you." She said as Kim passed.

"Yeah. There was one year where me and Andrew were at the top of that list." Kim said.

"Well the majority of us put you two down for getting together. I think mainly due to Tom and his insider information."

"Like I have said many times. I did not have insider information, I just used my eyes." Tom said as he joined the conversation.

"Right." Rachel said as she turned to Eddie, who just shrugged at her.

"Plus there was the bet on who would get engaged first, Tom and Davina or two you. That has helped me out." Steph said.

"I am glad you all use your non-contact time to such great use."

"Maybe now that you two are a thing, you can join in."

"I think you have helped yourself to too much champagne and that it would be best if me and Eddie stayed out of it. Probably best not to know all the staff bet on the love lives of other staff members."

Rachel shook her head as they left them, not completely surprised about what Steph had just told them.

"We wouldn't want them any other way, would we?" She asked Eddie.

"Not at all."

Honestly, all I had for this chapter in my plan was; an impromptu Reddie proposal... I think it lives up to that.