In Rachel's eyes no one refused work from a teacher, especially not her daughter. Therefore she thought she had punished Alicia lightly considering what she had done. She had received the punishments set to her at school by Eddie, then Miss Mason set her a 3000 word essay to be in the next monday that explained why everything she had done was wrong. Rachel had also grounded her for two weeks.

'Mum don't you think I'm in enough trouble at school, why are you adding to it?'

'Because Alicia, you need to learn that smoking in school is not tolerated, missing part of a class to make out with a stranger is not tolerated and refusing to do school work is definitely not tolerated at school or at home'

Alicia thought for a moment and then said 'he wasn't a complete stranger' before stomping upstairs

Rachel followed her daughter 'right give me your phone, laptop and the tv remote'

'Mummmmm, bet you never did this with Philip' alicia groaned

Rachel ignored the comment about Philip 'Now' Miss Mason's stern voice had returned 'now get set on some homework'

'Don't have any'

'Well you have my essay, and you know if it's not good enough...'

'...you'll have to write it again' alicia mimicked her mum's voice, she'd heard that line so many times she could do it perfectly

Rachel laughed 'and less of your cheek missy, dinner will be about 7, Eddie's coming round so make sure you behave'

'Fine' alicia snapped, Eddie was the last person she wanted to see

Rachel went along to her nephew's room and knocked on the door 'Hey Phil can I come in?'

'Uhh yeah'

Phil hadn't spoken much since his mother had left him, and Rachel was becoming more and more worried about him

'How was school today?'

'Uhh yeah it was good'

'I'm glad it went ok, I'm inviting Eddie over tonight is that ok?'

'Aunty Rach that's fine, you and Eddie are great'

'Thanks Phil, any homework you need to get on with?'

'Yeah a bit, just stuck on my history'

'Right that's my speciality - what do you need help on?'

For about half an hour, Rachel spent time with Phil explaining bits of the Cold War to him, it was amost a bonding experience between the pair and she was certain that Phil had sounded less nervous talking to her by the end of the session.

However, Alicia was outside the door feeling very jealous, all her life she wanted her mum's attention, and she had all of it for a period of time and now she had to share it with Eddie and Phil. Alicia was not used to sharing anything, and was finding it difficult to adjust to only having a third of her mother's attention. She was only used to having it all or none of it

After she had spent time with Phil, rachel went downstairs to prepare dinner, spaghetti bolognaise - eddie's favourite, she also made an effort to tidy the house, having two children in the house made her usually spotless house a lot less tidy.

The doorbell rang, and Rachel was surprised she had butterflies in her stomach

She opened the door, and eddie looked as handsome as ever he had the same blazer and shirt on he did today, but had changed into some dark blue jeans

'Arr hello there Miss Mason' he leaned in and their lips met it took a couple of moments for him to break away

'Are you going to invite me in then?'

'Hmm maybe' rachel said before leaning in for another kiss and then skipped down the hall to the kitchen

Eddie shut the front door and chased after her, he put his arms around her waste and whispered 'I take that as a yes' he then nibbled her ear knowing that was a sensitive spot and then moved down and started kissing her neck

'Not now Eddie later' rachel giggled

At the moment Alicia came in 'mum... Eww'

She saw Eddie and her face fell 'oh you're here' she then stomped back upstairs

'Alicia still mad about today?'

'Uhh yeah understatement, but she'll live I think it's just odd seeing you in her kitchen when you have to punish her at school'

'Yes but she lives with Miss Mason' he laughed

'Yes but I'm her mother' she giggled sticking her tongue out at him

Upstairs Alicia was angry, Eddie had arrived early and she wanted to talk to her mum, now all she wanted to do was text Nathan to spite her mum and Eddie but she had no phone

A couple of hours passed and Rachel called 'Alicia and Philip dinner's ready' philip came down and said hello to Eddie and sat at the table. However, strange that he had dated his mum and now his aunt, Philip found talking with Eddie comfortable and got on well with him

However Alicia didn't want to sit with Eddie 'I'm not hungry'

'Alicia Mason down here now'

'No' came the shouted reply

'Right' rachel made her way to the bottom of the stairs before turning to the kitchen 'I'm sorry about this Eddie' she then made her way upstairs

'Your cousin's a right little madam' eddie laughed

'Well you can't blame her, she's been through a lot'

'Like what?'

'Well she's basically gone through what I'm going through-'

Eddie's face looked blank, on christmas eve rachel had told him most things but as the wine bottles became empty, rachel's memory slipped

Phil continued 'not having a mother'

Eddie decided not to push Phil and would further the conversation with Rachel that evening

Upstairs both women were angry

'Down those stairs this minute young lady, don't you dare play me up in front of Eddie'

'I don't want to and you can't force me'

'No I can't, but I can extend the length of the essay I sent you and you can spend another week grounded'

'That's so unfair, why do I get Miss Mason at home too?'

'Because your mother is far to angry to talk right now'

'Well to the both of you, I'm staying here'

'Alicia Mason, do as your told NOW'

Alicia didn't move, she stayed sat on her bed trying to ignore her mother

'Fine, your dinner will be thrown out and if you can't be civil you can go to bed now'

Rachel stormed out and shut the door forcefully behind her. She took a few moments to regain her temper and then walked down to see that both guys had finished their pasta

'Greedy chops' she exclaimed

'No Alicia then?' Eddie asked

'Umm no, she's quite stubborn like her mother and she doesn't want to come down. Sorry Eddie for this'

'Don't worry, she's missing out this is incredible cooking Rach'

Rachel beamed at him, her eyes dancing with happiness

'Uhh Rach can Ros come round tonight?' Philip asked finally breaking Rachel's gaze

'Well it is a school night?'

'Oh Rach don't pretend you never did it'

'Fine she can come just as long as you've both done your homework'

'Yeah brilliant, we both have'

Philip made a sudden swift exit out the room but before he left, he added 'she's staying the night too' he then went upstairs as fast as he could to avoid the awkward questions his aunt would ask him

Eddie laughed, whilst Rachel looked worried

'Rachel lighten up, they're kids - it'll probably just be harmless banter tonight, you know what their like...'

Rachel cut in 'yes but Eddie...'

'No buts, leave Miss Mason at the office, and stop worrying'

'Yes sir' they both laughed, rachel finished her dinner and they moved into the lounge

They put some rubbish on the tv, and curled up together. After a while Eddie spoke

'Rach, Phil mentioned something about Alicia not having a mum, what did he mean?'

'Well, alicia hadn't really had a mum until last year, I..uh.. I wasn't around'

Rachel went on to explain how she felt when she used to see Alicia and how much she haunted her of her past. During the time rachel told eddie she had prepared herself for him to be disgusted at her like Adam had been and to want nothing to do with her.

However, after she had spoken eddie replied 'rachel I agree you were selfish and I am shocked, but I do believe you have your reasons, and you've come so far by learning from your mistake. Alicia is lucky to have you in her life now, and seeing you as a mum, well I can't believe I'm going to admit this...but makes you a lot more sexy'

eddie added the last bit to make the atmosphere a lot less serious, he was never good in those sort of situations

Rachel was thankful for this, so made sure not to change the light tone of the conversation 'Mr Lawson you're a very cheeky man' then she tickled his neck, this was eddie's weak spot, she continued with her torture until she was straddling him

Eddie then leant in and reassured her with the five words she longed to hear 'I love you Miss Mason'

At that moment the doorbell went

Rachel got herself up and went to answer it, Eddie stood behind her

Ross was standing out there in the pouring rain, soaked and shivering

'Hi Miss Mason, I'm here to see Phil'

'Oh Ros come in, Phil bring some towels down please' rachel called to her nephew upstairs

'Oh hi Mr Lawson' Ros grinned at her maths teacher

Rachel lead the girl into the lounge and sat her on the chair by the radiator, she then told Eddie to make five hot chocolates

'Ros, why did you walk here?' Rachel asked in a concerned tone

'Umm...mum and dad are on holiday' ros sounded pathetic she couldn't even convince herself that what she was saying was true

'And the real reason?' Rachel asked

'Dad kicked me out, he knew Phil and I were together. And he told me that I should concentrate on University. I said I could do both, but he wasn't having any of it and told me to leave. Mum tried to talk him round but once he's made his mind up, that's it' Ros began to cry

Rachel knelt down opposite the girl and comforted her 'you can stay here tonight, and then we'll have to talk to social services. However, because you're 18 I don't think it should be a problem if you stay here for a bit longer, it'll be ok I promise and I'll try talking to your Dad tomorrow'

'Thanks Miss Mason, hey Phil'

Phil had walked in with a load of towels, he put them down on the sofa and went over to kiss his girlfriend and wiped away her tears.

Rachel gave them some space and went into the kicthen to find Eddie about to burn the milk

'Eddie - the milk!'

'Oh good thinking as always Miss Mason' he looked at her with a cheeky grin before saving the milk

'I'm never leaving you in here again'

Eddie had spilt the chocolate powder everywhere, her gleaming kitchen sides were now layered with brown dust

He then took two mugs into the lounge, and Rachel took one upstairs

'Alicia can I come in?'

'Yeah one second'

Rachel didn't wait and pushed the door open, alicia was sketching on the notepad she got for christmas, before rachel could see it alicia turned it over

'Mum what happened to waiting?'

Rachel ignored the comment, 'I've brought you some hot chocolate Eddie made you'

'Uhh thanks, but I'm not feeling like it...'

Again Rachel ignored her, and placed the mug on her bedside table

'Also Ros is staying the night, her parents have kicked her out - so please no more acting up' rachel then left

Alicia felt a pang of guilt, although she had to share her mum now, she knew her mum wouldn't leave her again. She drank her hot chocolate and then went downstairs, alicia walked in to the kitchen, where Rachel and Eddie were sat at the diner

'Thanks for the hot chocolate Eddie it was lush!'

Eddie smiled at her, surprised at the sudden mood change

'You lovely girl, were told to stay in your room tonight'

Just like her mother did to her, alicia ignored this comment

'I just want to say I'm really sorry about earlier, at school and here. And especially to you mum I'm sorry I embarrassed you in front of Eddie when you were trying to play it cool' alicia said this with a cheeky glint in her eye

Rachel blushed and Eddie roared with laughter and he slapped his leg

Alicia went and gave her mum a hug and then left and found Ros and Phil in the lounge

'Hey Ros, I have a spare uniform if you want to borrow it tomorrow - one of the many pros of being the headmistress' daughter'

Ros laughed 'thanks Alicia'

The three children sat and watched TV together, all were smiling.

Back in the kitchen, eddie still couldn't stop laughing

'Miss Mason trying to play it cool eh?'

Rachel laughed 'yes I supp...'

Eddie shut her up by kissing her, and Rachel certainly wasn't complaining!

bit of a pointless chapter but I'm trying to build them as a family

Ros is definitely not gay

Please review :)