A few hours later...

It was 4pm. Annabelle was asleep upstairs after wearing herself out at the park. Eddie was sat with Rachel in the kitchen, both of them drinking tea in a comfortable silence.

Rachel had been quiet since they'd said goodbye to Bolton. Eddie wasn't quite sure why, she had been ok until they had gone into the car. She didn't seem upset exactly, it wasn't that. It was more that she was deep in thought, questioning something. But what she was questioning and thinking about was consuming her and demanding her full attention, causing her to be distant and not quite in the present moment.

The ticking of the clock was the only noise in the room, and it was driving Eddie insane. He had to ask her what was wrong. He wanted to help her problem solve whatever she was worrying about.

"Rach, are you ok?"

She tore her eyes away from the table beneath her, meeting his gaze.

The truth was, Bolton's words had been playing on her mind for the entire afternoon. She couldn't get what he'd said out of her head.

It was no secret that Rachel had feelings for Eddie. She always had. When Adam had died, she'd thought that she would never fall in love or marry again. Her heart was too broken to ever be capable of loving someone like she had loved Adam. She had expected it to be just her and Annabelle for the rest of her life, and she had been ok with that.

Three years on, she had Eddie. They were good friends, but there was the potential for something more between them. Rachel felt it just by looking into his eyes. She felt something for him that she couldn't quite describe, and had thought she would never feel again. Love.

The thought of falling in love again frightened her somewhat. The thought of opening her heart up again and letting someone in, when there was the potential for that person to be ripped away from her at any second made her feel sick. She knew Eddie wouldn't hurt her or Annabelle intentionally, she had thought that about Adam too, until a situation out of both of their controls took him away from her. What if it happened again? She couldn't lose Eddie. It would hurt too much. And not only that, she had Annabelle to think of too.

But, Bolton was right. Adam would have wanted her to be happy. She was at a point in her life again where she craved companionship, someone to share her life and daughter with. Someone she could trust and love and make memories with. Someone who made her happy. And she had found that someone, in Eddie Lawson. They spent so much time together, in the week and at weekends. He was there whenever he needed her. He loved Annabelle and Annabelle adored him. The thought of them all living together under one roof, as a family unit was something she desperately wanted. She trusted Eddie with her life.

Eddie would never and could never replace Adam. She would always love him and would make sure Annabelle knew everything there was to know about her Father. Staying single just because she felt like she was betraying Adam wouldn't make her happy, and she knew Adam wouldn't have wanted that for her. She had to take this leap, if Eddie wanted it.

"Rach?" Eddie prompted, her silence worrying him

She looked at him, a soft smile forming on her face. It was now or never.

"Eddie, I- I never thought I would see you again after... that day when Melissa showed up pregnant. When we were reunited at the party at Waterloo Road, I couldn't help but think it was fate. When I lost Adam, I truly believed I'd never fall in love again. But, three years on, I think I am falling in love again... with you"

Eddie stared at her for a moment, his cheeks turning a shade of crimson.

"I know it's complicated, I have a dead husband and a daughter, and I totally understand if you don't feel the same way, but- Eddie, I love you. I never thought I would feel for someone like this again in the way that I feel for you"

She was expecting him to run out the door at any second and to never hear from him again. Their friendship would be out the window, and she would have to face Annabelle's questions as to why her Uncle Eddie didn't come over to see her anymore.

It surprised her when he grabbed her hand, pulling it into his own. He smiled at her and she instantly felt her nerves disappear. His eyes sparkled as he squeezed her hand gently.

"I love you too, Rach"

"Really?"

"Of course. I've never stopped loving you"

Her heart fluttered in her chest at his words. She smiled.

They stood up, closing the distance between them. Rachel leaned in, butterflies erupting in her stomach as their lips connected. Eddie wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her closer to him as he deepened the kiss. His free hand wandered through her silky soft hair, moving across to her cheekbone.

Rachel sighed contentedly, her hands coming to rest around the back of his neck. Eddie made her heart skip a beat, a sensation she'd never thought she would feel again in her life. She was sure that taking the leap with Eddie was going to be the best decision she had made in the last few years.

The end.

A/N: Thank you so much for reading! I loved writing this story so much and I'm sad it's come to an end! I hope you all enjoyed it! Let me know what you think! :)