The summer holidays had flown by Michael had gone back to his mums and it was now just a few days until everyone returned to school, Rachel was still debating over the option of taking maternity leave or not although Eddie kept saying it would be a good idea if she did.
Ding! Dong!
"I'll get it!" Jayden shouted as he was closest to the door, opening it he was greeted by the site of a man and woman.
"Yea" He asked.
"Were looking for Rachel Mason"
"Rachel it's for you!" Jay shouted once again as Eddie came down the stairs.
"She'll be down in a minute she's just settling the little one, can I help?" He said going to the door as Jayden walked off back to the kitchen.
"Were her parents, Malcolm and Pat" Malcolm said shaking his hand.
"Ok, well um... I'm Eddie her fiancée"
"Nice to meet you"
"And you, both come in" Eddie led them into the living room and went off to make them a coffee as they walked around the living room admiring the photos.
"Who was it at the door Eddie?" Rachel said as she came downstairs and into the kitchen.
"You might wanna have a look for yourself, they're in the living room" Eddie nodded with his head.
"Okay then" Rachel frowned but doing what he said.
"Mum, Dad" Rachel looked shocked.
"Mandy" Her dad smiled, her mum looking less pleased.
"What? Um I'm not Amanda anymore; I'm Rachel, Rachel Mason"
"We know Melissa told us everything, before she got arrested that is"
"Everything as in"
"What happened last year, and that Phil told her you have a family know"
"Phil's upstairs has she not even said about coming to see him"
"She said he was better off with you and also because he's still at school"
"Unbelievable" Rachel sighed as Eddie came in with the coffees and everybody sat down, Eddie and Rachel on one sofa and her parents on the other.
"Thank-you" Malcolm smiled.
"Anyway enough of her, we came to see you you're a head teacher know" Malcolm added.
"Yes of Waterloo Road"
"Isn't that school associated with drugs and violence" Pat asked.
"Not anymore, Rachel turned it around, saved it if you like" Eddie intervened.
"Wow, I'm impressed" Pat smiled.
"I couldn't have done it without the staff or my ex deputy though" Rachel smiled looking at Eddie.
"Oh I'm sure you could have"
"I believe I have a granddaughter know finally" Malcolm was keen to see her.
"Um, yeah dad you do she's asleep upstairs"
"Are we allowed to see her I mean like upstairs" He asked.
"Course" Rachel smiled taking them upstairs with Eddie following behind.
"What's her name?" Pat asked as Rachel opened the door.
"Tulisha"
Malcolm and Pat entered Tulisha's room and walked over to her cot.
"She's beautiful" Malcolm looked back at his daughter proudly she had seen that look off him many times but not since she had passed her exams in school.
"She really is Rachel" She gained the same look off her mum, she never thought she'd see it again especially off her mum.
Eddie smile at the huge smile plastered across Rachel's face snaking his arms round her waist and kissing her cheek.
"Do you want me to let Phil know?" Eddie whispered in her ear.
"Yeah, thanks Eddie"
"Its alryt" He added letting go of her and walking up the 2nd set of stairs to Phil's room.
"Phil!" Eddie knocked on his door, he heard the music go down and the door opened.
"Yeah"
"Your nan and granddad are here mate"
"Oh right"
"You gunna come down and see them?"
"Suppose, give me 10 minutes"
Rachel and Eddie went into the kitchen to make a start on tea whilst Phil spoke to his grandparents in the living room.
"You know Phil didn't sound too keen when I told him your mum and dad where here"
"Didn't he, well I don't see why not they adore him"
"Yeah but he hasn't seen them in ages has he" Jayden interrupted.
"How do you know" Eddie asked.
"We talk init"
"Oh"
"Just cause we don't look like the type of people who would hang round with each other doesn't mean we don't talk we've actual got a lot in common"
Tea had just been served, Rachel had invited her mum and dad to stay for it, she was about to sit down when Tulisha started crying.
"I'll get her Rach"
"No it's ok" She smiled.
"Alryt"
"So Eddie how long have you and Rachel known each other?"
"Um, about 3 years maybe and we've been together for a year and 2 months if you don't count the, break up"
"Oh, what happened?"
"It's a long story"
"I like long stories" Pat pushed.
"To be honest I'd rather not..."
"Look nan he obviously doesn't want to talk to you about it and I thought mum had already told you"
"She did I just thought it'd be nice to hear Eddie's side"
"Well you thought wrong"
"Yeah Pat just leave it out, anyway what do you see in my girl?"
"Aha you sure you want to ask me this, I'll be rambling on for ages"
"Yeah"
"Well, she's uh... she's beautiful, intelligent, she's got an amazing personality and I just love her" Rachel smiled at his words as she walked in.
"That's what I like to hear mate" Malcolm grinned, "Now look isn't that just a site" He added referring to Rachel and Tulisha.
"My favourite" Eddie noted.
"Can I hold her?"
"Course dad" Rachel walked over to him and gently placed her in his arms.
"How's um, Lewis?" Rachel suddenly questioned sitting back in her seat.
"He uh, he's fine as far as we know anyway, he's in um... you know" Pat faltered.
"He's in Afghan Rachel; your mum doesn't really like talking about it"
"When did he go there?"
"Last month he comes back at Christmas and then has to go back out for another 4 months"
"Oh"
"You can write him a letter if you want it'd be a lovely surprise as he's always talking about you"
"Yeah I will, how long are you staying for?"
"Just a couple more days, were in a hotel in town"
"I'll write it tonight then and give it to you tomorrow"
"Yeah"
"That dinner was lovely thank-you" Malcolm smiled.
"Fancy a coffee"
"Yes please"
Eddie and Rachel were snuggled up in bed, tonight had been a whirlwind Rachel seeing her parents again for the first time since she was 17 and she was know 34!