Thank you for the reviews.

Now, this is a chapter where I... kinda gave up on it. It's not the usual word count but I am keen to get this out and finished. Then I can focus on the fics that I plan to get out this year...

So enjoy this light-hearted chapter... which is probably a filler chapter... (and it wouldn't be one of my fics without a mention of a certain name, would it? And please don't take any offence to any names that I've maybe blackmarked. Nothing personal. I do, obviously, go off my own experiences.)

Chapter Twenty
Sunday 20th December

Eddie knew that if he wanted to keep Rachel in bed, he couldn't let her leave the bedroom. So he offered to make the coffee and breakfast as long as she got back in bed after using the bathroom. And he made it all as quickly as he possibly could. He couldn't let Rachel get restless.

Although, he was surprised to see Rachel sitting up in bed, reading, waiting for him.

There were moments when Eddie knew that he had just fallen in love with Rachel a little more and he knew that he was having a moment like that when she looked up at him and smiled.

He settled back under the covers after he handed out what he had brought up from the kitchen. And when Rachel leant against his shoulder, he knew that he had never been so content before.

"Grace," Rachel said. "I've always quite liked Grace."

Eddie took a moment to see if he could understand what Rachel was on about but he really struggled. Meaning that he had to ask.

"Sorry? What?" Eddie said.

She laughed. "We do have a girl to name, don't we?"

"Yeah."

"And we've got about four months to decide on a name for her."

"Okay."

"So I thought I would start the ball rolling. With Grace. I probably would have said Lydia but you already have one of those in the family."

"I would say Lois but there is one of them as well." He thought about it for a moment. "Kiera. I've always liked Kiera."

"Really?"

"Yeah. Don't know why. Just always have."

"Molly."

Eddie felt his face move before he could do anything about it. "Sorry, first heartbreak."

"I suppose another reason to be grateful it's a girl. It would be easier to say names that it wasn't going to be."

"Lauren."

This time, it was Rachel's turn to look a little unsure. "School bully. Also haven't really met that many nice Laurens. I know it is just a name."

"I know. Olivia."

"For you to shorten to?"

"What?"

Rachel moved slightly to see him better. "Oh come, Eddie. Cathy, Abbie and Lottie were all because of you. Danny is the only other name that you could have shortened that you haven't. So far, it has been names that you can't shorten easily. So what would Olivia be shortened to?"

"Probably to Liv. Is there a problem with that?"

"Or Livvy."

"Now you've kinda put me off it."

Their bedroom was filled with Rachel's laughter and there had never been a more beautiful sound to Eddie.

"Evelyn. I know it is an older name." Rachel said once she got her giggles under control.

"I don't mind the traditional names."

"You are Edward after all."

"Yeah, and there is only one time you are calling me that in public."

"What's wrong with Edward?"

"It's a young boy's or an old man's name. After the age of eight, I just didn't like it anymore. I can't explain why." He paused for a moment. "Vera."

"Oh, I love that name. Vera. Vera Lawson." She paused. "Florence."

"So we are going old-fashioned now."

"Yeah."

"Ada."

"Ada?"

"If I can remember it right, I think my great-great-aunt on my dad's side was called Ada. Or was it Mum's?"

"Going with the family names now, are we?"

"Well… her middle name could be Sarah. If you want. If we are talking about family names."

The dead silence was not what he had expected and he knew that he was probably better off not saying it than saying it. He did mean it sincerely. It was the only family name from Rachel's side that they could give their daughter. And Eddie didn't mind honouring his mother-in-law in that way. He was never going to meet her. This would be the closest that he could.

"I know why you've said it. And I do appreciate it." Rachel said, sadly.

"It was just an idea. One that can be vetoed. I don't care. I just thought you might."

"Everything about my parents is going to be strained, Eddie. It is why I want the best in-laws I can get. And I will."

Eddie was glad that she did take so much comfort from his family, especially his parents. There wasn't much he could do about her life but he was sure that the little things mattered more to Rachel than massive gestures that couldn't be sustained. It did make things easier for Eddie that way. Because he knew that he had a lot to give her and it took minimal effort to give it to her.

But he was quick to bring it back to names for their little girl.

And he found himself unable to wait until she was born.

Eddie wasn't stupid.

He knew that Rachel was planning something.

Either that or she was trying to organise his Christmas present.

She just wasn't really making a good job of it. Maybe she was still a little jumpy from what Max had put her through but she spent the entirety of the afternoon either locked away in the dining room or in their bedroom.

It was sweet really.

If she was going to so much trouble.

Not that Eddie could think why it seemed like there was quite a bit to it.

And it was hard to not try to overhear the conversations that were happening. But it was clear that Philip knew what was going to when he gestured for Eddie to move on when Eddie really wanted to place his ear against the door of the dining room. He just wanted a hint. Especially when it sounded like Rachel was talking to Alice.

From the little bit that he had heard, it sounded all rather serious and he couldn't think why.

Although, Eddie did worry if Alice was involved. As much as he loved his sister, he knew that if someone was going to wind him up, it would be her. Probably in revenge for how many times he wound her up when they were kids.

But then again, Rachel was involved as well and he hoped that she wouldn't do anything that was some sort of joke gift.

So he resigned himself with the fact that Christmas was only five days away.

He could wait that long.

And he was excited to find out what it could be.

The moment Philip told her that Eddie had been sneaking about and may have caught part of her conversation with Alice, Rachel started to worry slightly. Obviously, it wasn't ideal to try and make plans behind someone's back when they were in the house but it was what she had to do.

And, realistically, it was to try and give her some time alone.

The fictitious check-up was sort of always going to happen, but a week later than they had told Max. She knew that Eddie would want to be there for it but there were quite a few things that Rachel needed to do while she was out. It wouldn't make sense for them to bring two cars as it would just make him more suspicious.

Not that the plan she had come up which involved Zoe and Alice wouldn't make him suspicious. She did try to say that maybe it was just best if they tried to get him a nice shirt and jacket and allowed him to wear his jeans (because she felt like she would be marrying him in jeans whatever) but they had been firm with her that Eddie was going to be wearing a full suit and that they were the perfect people to get him to wear one. Plus, he had said that he would wear one to their wedding. Rachel just suspected that he probably thought that he had more time before he actually needed to buy one. Maybe to prepare himself for that type of purchase.

Although, after years of asking why he didn't wear a suit or, at least, suit trousers, it was nice to know that he would make an effort for their big day.

She didn't want to ask Eddie what he thought was going on because she didn't want to make him more suspicious. And she took the fact that he hadn't asked her any questions as a good sign. If he was curious about what was going on, he was keeping it to himself. Not that she thought that he could guess what was going on.

But things were falling into place.

And she just hoped that she was doing the right thing.