Rachel's heart was hammering in her chest by the time they parked up at the Police Station. Her heartbeat was so loud, she was sure anyone within a hundred mile radius could hear it.

A thousand different scenarios were running through her head as to how this meeting with DI Wolfe could go. It could be that they were letting Stuart out, or that they were locking him up and throwing away the key. The first one seemed more likely. Even with evidence, everything he had done to Rachel was her word against his. And Stuart could wiggle his way out of trouble easily if he fought hard enough.

If they let him walk free, he would come straight for her, she knew that. And maybe this time when it came to injuries, she wouldn't be so lucky.

Eddie could feel the anxiety radiating off of Rachel. It was only making him more nervous. He could feel her shaking violently in the seat next to him. He wanted to take her into his arms and tell her it would all be ok. But he couldn't.

Instead, he took her hand into his own to let her know he was there.

He smiled at her encouragingly when she looked at him, reminding her that she wasn't on her own with this, that he was by her side regardless. Relief and a new sense of determination began to creep in. She could handle anything if he was by her side.

"Ready?" He asked

She nodded

They got out of the car, their hands re-joining as they walked through the doors of the Police Station. To their surprise, DI Wolfe was already waiting for them.

"Hello, Rachel, Eddie. Please come through" DI Wolfe greeted with a booming voice, gesturing toward a small room

Eddie and Rachel smiled politely, heading into the tiny box room and sitting down at the table. Eddie felt Rachel's grip on his hand tighten as the door shut behind them. He smiled at her reassuringly.

"Can I get either of you a drink? Tea, coffee, water?" DI Wolfe offered

Eddie and Rachel shook their heads.

"Ok, well, I'll just cut to the chase. I wanted to tell you in person that we are closing our investigation into Stuart Hordley" he explains

Rachel's heart plummeted at his words. Stuart Hordley was going to walk free, she knew it.

How could she have been so stupid, trusting the Police to arrest and charge him? How could she have expected him to not get away with it?

Eddie didn't understand. What did this mean?

The thought of Stuart walking the streets of Rochdale again made him feel sick. Why weren't the Police doing more? They had all the evidence to charge him!

Rachel was shaking in her chair, her breathing heavy and wheezy. Her chest and lungs felt like they were on fire. The walls felt like they were closing in on her, crushing her.

Eddie knew instantly she was on the brink of a panic attack. He moved in front of her, watching painfully as she fought for breath. He took both of her hands into his own. She looked at him, her eyes filled with tears.

"I think you've misunderstood," DI Wolfe interrupted

Eddie put a hand up to silence him. Rachel needed a few moments of quiet.

"Breathe, Rach, breathe" Eddie encouraged, rubbing her hands with his thumbs

She took a deep, shaky and wheezy breath, exhaling painfully. She zoned out of the room, focussing on Eddie, the way he was looking at her with pure love in his eyes. Suddenly, breathing became a little easier, knowing he was there by her side.

Once her breathing had returned to a slower pace, Eddie sat back down in his chair, keeping his hand locked firmly in Rachel's.

"So, w-what... what happens now?" Rachel stammered

"I'm sorry, Rachel, Eddie. I chose my words poorly. We've closed the investigation because we've charged Stuart Hordley" DI Wolfe explained

Rachel's head shot up at that.

Had she heard him correctly?

"Sorry... what?" She questioned

"He's been charged for rape and assault. He'll be in prison for the next 15 years at least. We moved him to a prison in Plymouth yesterday. He won't be coming back to Rochdale"

Rachel breathed a massive sigh of relief before bursting into tears. Eddie immediately wrapped her in his arms, relief flooding through him. Stuart Hordley was officially gone from their lives. He wouldn't walk the streets of Rochdale ever again. He couldn't hurt Rachel again. He was gone, forever.

"I'll give you a few minutes" DI Wolfe decided, exiting the room and closing the door behind him

Eddie pulled apart from Rachel, cupping her face with his hands. He wiped her tears away with his thumb. She smiled at him, her eyes filled with relief. She kissed him softly on the lips, butterflies erupting in her stomach.

"He's gone, Rach. That's it. We won!" Eddie smiled

She nodded. She'd been waiting for this day for weeks. It was finally here, and she felt nothing but relief.

"I love you" she whispered

Eddie smiled, pecking her on the lips

"I love you too, Rach"

The door opened, DI Wolfe re-entering with a glass of water for Rachel. She took it from him gratefully, sipping it slowly.

"So what happens next?" Eddie asked

"Well he'll be at the prison in Plymouth for the foreseeable future. We're still making inquiries into the child labour allegations. Once that's sorted, he'll go on trial again and his sentence will probably be extended. Of course we'll keep you informed on anything to do with that. But he's been put away for what he did to you, Rachel"

"I appreciate everything you've done DI Wolfe, thank you" Rachel smiled

"No need to thank me, it was all you and Eddie"

Once they'd said their goodbyes, they thanked DI Wolfe again before heading back out into the car park. Rachel walked hand in hand with Eddie, a new spring in her step.

"Why don't we go out for a drink to celebrate?" Eddie suggested

"We can't, Philip, remember?" Rachel replied

"Rach, he can live without us for a couple of hours! You deserve a drink" he argued

Rachel smiled

"Why don't we compromise and get a bottle of champagne instead?" She suggested, playing with the collar of his shirt

Eddie smiled

"Ok, fine" he huffed

Rachel giggled, getting into the car.

...

Back at Rachel's house Philip had gotten changed into jeans and a t-shirt whilst he waited for a taxi to take him to Earl's.

Philip wasn't a huge fan of parties usually. Anything that involved socialising, or being in a cramped space with a lot of noise made him feel uneasy. But he was fed up of being the new boy, the kid who got picked on and bullied for no reason. It was time for a change. Earl was right, he just needed some friends.

He didn't care what Eddie or Rachel said, Earl seemed friendly enough to him. He was the only one who had been nice to him, who hadn't laughed at him or hurled verbal abuse at him today. If he wanted to be friends with Earl, he would be.

The taxi finally arrived. Philip put his phone into his pocket, clambering awkwardly into the taxi and giving the driver Earl's address.

He'd thought about texting Rachel to tell her he was going out, but she'd only ask questions and make an unnecessary fuss. She and Eddie were out anyway. They wouldn't know he was gone. Besides, if she'd found out he'd been to a party on a school night, well, he didn't know what she'd do, but he'd be in trouble. So he left his phone in his pocket.

You could hear the house party from at least three streets away. As soon as the taxi pulled up outside the house, the music and shrieks of laughter washed over Philip, deafening him.

He paid the taxi driver and got out of the car. Almost instantly, he felt nervous and uncomfortable. Maybe this hadn't been such a good idea after all.

No.

He could do this. If he wanted to fit in and make friends, this is what he had to do. He'd never been invited to a party before. This was a once in a lifetime opportunity for him. And he was going to enjoy it.

He stepped into the hallway, searching for Earl. He found him almost straight immediately. He was stood in the kitchen, chatting away to Maxine Barlow.

The noise of the party buzzed in his ears, the smell of alcohol and stale cigarettes wafted up his nose. The atmosphere made him feel alive. He'd never experienced anything like it before. Whether he liked it or not, it didn't matter. He would force himself to enjoy it.

Earl spotted him in the doorway and grinned. If Maxine wouldn't have any drugs tonight, he knew someone who would.

He grabbed the full bottle of WKD off the side, putting a little drop of something into it before striding over to Philip.

"Hey, mate! You made it!" He greeted

"Yeah, great party!" Philip nodded

"Thanks for coming"

Philip smiled sheepishly

"Here you go mate, have a drink" Earl added, pushing the bottle into his hand

Philip took it gratefully.

"Thanks" he mumbled, taking a huge swig. Somehow he managed to suppress the urge to cough as the substance burned his throat

Earl smirked. This kid was an easy target.

"Why don't you go and mingle, yeah? Make some mates? Any problems just tell me, alright?" Earl suggested

Philip nodded, heading into the living room. He didn't hear Earl and Maxine's sniggering.