Hey, thanks to all of you still reading. This chapter was a struggle but we got there in the end XD
Rachel hated to be away from Rochdale. It was hard leaving Nat, and Eddie too. Although she trusted him fully, leaving the school to Eddie's management tested her inner control freak. He'd promised to call and update her in the evenings, and she'd kept her phone on, but on silent during the day's talks, which was heavily discouraged by the organisers, so that Nat could contact her if needs be.
She didn't have her office number saved in her mobile, why would she?
When the call from an unrecognised number came through, she almost didn't answer it. But as she looked up at the screen in front of her, full of tips on how to deal with difficult students, she decided she could do with a break - it wasn't like she had a school full of difficult students!
As Eddie's voice came through the phone she was initially happy to hear from him, but immediately found herself full of nerves - something must have happened for him to be calling her in the middle of the day.
She almost laughed when he apologised for calling, asking if he'd interrupted something important. Though, they'd said nothing important so far that day, so it was unlikely.
"Who or what is on fire then?" She joked, using humour to hide her growing concern.
It was comforting to hear his familiar chuckle over the phone.
"No fires. Yet anyway. I'm actually calling about Nat - and before you ask, yes, she's fine. But to cut a long story very short, we've had some travellers pitch up behind the school, and some of the school body haven't been… well, particularly accommodating."
Rachel grimaced, she was sure she could guess who had been particularly outspoken.
"And this concerns Nat how?"
"Well, let me firstly say that it seemed like a good plan at the time, but I organised a football match. Thought it would unite the kids."
Rachel hummed, "Like in the War?" She clarified, wondering if Eddie could have really thought that pitting two opposing sides against each other would help smooth things over.
There was a pause over the other line, and she was sure she could hear some snickering, "well… yeah. So, the travellers were one down, so I got Nat to fill in, but some of the kids weren't playing particularly fair."
"So she got hurt," Rachel guessed, that sounded like something that would happen to Nat - she didn't have the best luck.
"Before you start feeling sorry for her though," Eddie added, "let me say that after this, she had a bit of a run in with Budgen and then used some rather inappropriate language about him in a cooler full of kids. So not setting the best example there…"
Rachel sighed running her hands through her hair, she'd only been away from the school for a day!
"Can I talk to her?"
…
She gripped the phone so hard her buckles were white, she had no idea how this conversation would go.
"I'm really sorry," she began, "I… It-"
"Love, don't worry about that now okay, we can deal with whatever you've done when I get back." Her mum interrupted, voice much calmer than she'd expected, "Are you okay?"
Nat visibly relaxed, "Yeah, I'm fine. Well, not fine, there's something wrong with my knee and they need parental consent for painkillers or whatever, that's what Eddie was phoning for really, but other than that I'm okay. It's just been a bit hectic here."
…
Nat was glad to see her mum come home the next evening, but she was also glad that she hadn't come home early like she'd threatened to do over the phone the previous evening. It'd given Eddie a chance to show her some photos of some rings, to check what she'd thought her mum would like. She'd had to phone Sam for advice but eventually they'd come to an agreement. It was very exciting, and took her mind off her knee, which was just as painful and stiff as it had been the previous day, which wasn't good news. Despite her injury, she was as bubbly as ever when her mum returned home, greeting her with a big hug and Eddie's wonderful cooking.
…
It was her mum's birthday coming up the following weekend, Sam was coming down and the three of them had agreed that Eddie should slip the ring box into the pile of presents, a low key, non-public proposal that they were sure their mum would like. The sisters had bought the couple a weekend away at Centre Parks as a present; they hoped that the two of them would be able to switch off from work long enough to enjoy it.
In a selfish way, she hoped that by tying the knot with her mother, Eddie would be prevented from leaving. Marriage could help solve her attachment issue right?
…
Luckily for her, and her fragile mental state, her mum said yes!
There had been radio silence the whole weekend so when the sisters heard the car on the driveway they both raced out to meet the couple. The modest, but beautiful ring they had helped choose was sitting right where it should be. The smile on their mum's face told them all they needed to know as they threw themselves into her arms.
Her knee had recovered massively with a few more days of rest and ice. Although she wasn't able to play the original weekend game, her coach had given her a second chance with the older team the following weekend. It went well too, she kept up with the quicker pace managing to lose her defenders a few times playing some good crosses into the box.
All in all, things hadn't turned out quite as bad as they could've. Although, she was stuck serving a 2 week long detention stint for her behaviour towards Mr Budgen, which she supposed was more than fair considering she'd point blank refused to apologise to the man.
…
"Do you think I let her off too easily?" Rachel asked as she and Eddie watched Nat skipping across the car park towards her friend at the end of her final detention two weeks later.
"Grantly was definitely pushing for a suspension."
Eddie shook his head, looking up from the books he had been marking.
"Grantly riled her up on purpose, I think she reacted pretty tamely, considering she'd already had a pretty bad day. It was an appropriate punishment."
He put his hand out, brushing his fingers against hers.
Rachel took his hand, turning away from the window, letting out a yelp of surprise as Eddie pulled her into his lap.
"Eddie," she hissed, "We're still at work." Regardless, she was smiling and making no effort to get up.
"The kids have left by now Ms Mason," Eddie said, smirking, "I want some time with my Fiancée." He pressed a kiss to her temple as she finally made to get up.
"You'll have me all to myself if you come over tonight, Nat's at Charlie's." She pauses for a moment, before adding, "I was thinking, since you're staying over so much anyway. Maybe we should make the move a permanent one, save paying for two places."
Eddie's smirk grew into a grin, "are you asking me to move in, Ms Mason?"
Rachel smiled before stopping short, almost looking worried. "I really should discuss this with Nat first, I'd hate to mess her up. She's been doing so well recently. But she does love you, so I'd doubt it'd be a problem."
Eddie nodded, taking her hand again, "of course. I'm seeing Michael this weekend anyway, so that'll give you two some time together."
…
"Crisp?" Charlie asked her. She could hear the crinkle of the packet as he opened it, the smell of cheese and onion wafting into her nose. She shook her head into his shoulder and shivered despite his hoodie that was wrapped around her.
They were walking to his house after stopping in town for some snacks - they were planning a movie marathon that evening.
"Is it just me or is Mr Lawson cheerier than usual?" Charlie asked innocently through a mouthful of crisps. "You guys seem closer too."
Nat stood up straight, rubbing her face and smiling for the first time in a while, having been in a bit of a mood after spending an hour in detention with Grantly of all people.
"He's-" she stopped, choosing her words carefully, "-He's good for me and mum, and I think we're good for him too. Even Sam likes him and she hates everyone."
Charlie laughed, "reminds me of someone else I know,"
His comment received a scowl and a slap on the arm, "for that, I'm gonna make you pay for the pizza tonight."
…
5 marvel movies, half a pizza, lots of snacks and a few hours of sleep later, Nat was awoken by someone shaking her shoulder gently. She groaned and rolled off the inflatable bed she'd been sleeping on - reminding her a little of her first week in Rochdale.
"Morning," Charlie's ever cheerful voice greeted her, "Your mum will be here soon, do you want some breakfast. My mum doesn't want Ms Mason to think she's neglectful."
"God forbid she gives your mum a detention with Budgen," Nat grunted, sitting up on the floor, "I'll have some toast, please."
She'd just finished eating when her mum knocked on the door. Terrifyingly, Charlie's mum invited her in, and she gracefully accepted. They chatted for a little while whilst Nat packed up her things. Charlie stood watching her awkwardly,
"Ms Mason is in my house," je muttered eventually. "How do you put up with this every day?"
Nat looked at him blankly for a moment before shrugging, "I suppose you get used to it eventually. Not sure when though, it still freaks me out."
…
Later that day, Rachel forced a tired Nat off the sofa to go out to the shops, with the argument she needed new school shoes after already ruining hers playing football on the playground at lunch. Once they'd agreed on a suitable pair, Nat managed to persuade her mum that they needed an ice cream as a treat.
"So Eddie has been spending a lot of time at our house recently." Rachel began carefully, receiving an agreeable nod from Nat, mouth full of her 'choc-a-holic' sundae.
"I just wanted to make sure you were okay with that. I know you've been used to it being us as Sam for a long time."
Nat chewed and swallowed, grimacing at the brain freeze whilst also rolling her eyes. "Eddie's great, and he makes us all happy. You're engaged, you'd think I'd have said something by now. I literally helped pick out your ring."
"I know sweetheart, I was just checking."
Nat smiled, "I know, and thank you. But I don't mind sharing you - sometimes at least- because this ice cream is pretty awesome and Eddie would definitely be stealing mine if he was here." She paused for a moment, "Are you gonna ask him to move in? Is that why you're asking me this?"
Rachel smiled at the perceptiveness of her child, "would that be okay?"
"Of course, especially if he promises to cook because your food just isn't as good. Sorry."
Rachel laughed, throwing a balled up napkin at her grinning daughter, "hey, I resent that, you love my beans on toast!"
Thanks for reading (: