Time, thought Rachel, had a funny way of creeping up on you without realising it. It wasn't long ago that she would have sworn there was at least an entire half term left until the summer holidays, only to suddenly be faced by the final day of school looming over her. But not her final ever day, she remembered with a thrill. Only last week, the LEA had asked for her to remain at Waterloo Road and to carry on with the plans she'd already put in motion. She hadn't even had to think about her answer before agreeing.

Tomorrow would be good day. The knowledge that she'd be returning in September, continuing with her work meant that there were no goodbyes necessary. The kids would be excited, not only about the end of school but also about the spelling bee and the football and to top it off, the weather was due to be warm and sunny. Everybody would be in a good mood.

Rachel smiled, shifting her weight as she lay in bed and pressed a hand to the slight swell of her stomach. With a very floaty top, she would be able to hide the roundness for one final day, if needed. But maybe she should just announce it to the staff, she pondered, and let them have the summer to work the questions out of their system before she had to see any of them again. She'd have to talk to Eddie about it in the morning.

Even as she thought it, she felt something new within her. A new sensation that she almost wrote off, before she realised it was almost directly beneath where her hand lay.

Rachel's breath caught in her throat. Without even thinking about it, she reached out towards her bedside table, grabbing her phone with her other hand.

"Rachel? What's wrong?" Eddie's voice didn't sound groggy, thankfully.

"Nothing's wrong." She smiled. "I'm sorry, I know it's late. But our daughter is currently making herself known. I thought you'd want to know."

There was a sudden rustle she thought was Eddie shooting upright. "She's kicking?"

"I'm not sure you can call it kicking." She looked down to where her hand rested, and felt it again. "It's more like… flutters. Very faint flutters."

She could practically hear the grin in his voice. "She's moving."

"She's moving."

It was, she thought, simultaneously the strangest and most wonderful sensation she'd ever felt. "Eddie?" She looked down at her hand, and bit her lip. "We're having a baby."

He chuckled. "Yes, we are."

"What do you think about telling the staff tomorrow?" She hadn't intended to ask right now, but all of a sudden, she didn't want to keep this a secret any longer.

"You want to tell people?"

"I know we've been discreet so far. But we're more than halfway through already. There'll be no hiding it come September, and I'd rather tell people before the whispers start." Another little flutter from within seemed to agree with her.

For several beats, Eddie remained silent. It was just long enough that Rachel felt a flicker of worry wind through her, a frown just beginning to form when he spoke suddenly. "Do you want to tell them the baby's mine, too?"

Her brow furrowed. Eddie's tone was wary and carefully emotionless, and suddenly she wished that she'd waited until the morning to begin this conversation, when she could have seen his face to figure out what he was thinking. Her stomach twisted uncomfortably. "I'd assumed we would." Her tone wavered slightly, and she swallowed. Couldn't let him know. Push it down, hide it away. "If you don't want to, however, that's fine. It doesn't need to mentioned."

There was a noise she couldn't quite decipher. "That's not what I meant!" He spoke so quickly he almost tripped over his words in haste. "I meant… Rachel. I didn't know if you would want the staff to know. You know how gossip flies around that place."

"I think we're a little past the avoiding gossip stage."

He snorted, before his tone sobered. "I don't want to put you in an awkward position. That's all."

"Eddie, I'm single and pregnant by my deputy, who I've only known a matter of months. My reputation is going to take a hit no matter when or how we tell people. At least if we tell them openly it won't look like we've anything to be ashamed of."

There was a brief pause, and a rustle as if he were settling back into another position. "Okay."

She had no idea if his agreement was real, or if he merely didn't want to upset her. She'd find out soon enough, she supposed, as they said goodbye and both hung up and she was already thinking about the following day. The staff were going to be all over the place, thanks to being the final day. Even lunchtime was going to be a bit hit and miss as to who would be in the staffroom, which meant the only time there would really be a group would be at the beginning of the day.

An entire day of whispers and gossip. It was only six hours, she supposed. She'd survived worse, and really, how bad could it be?

W.R.

The next morning, however, brought more good weather and with it, a continuation of her good mood. The kids were happy and excited about the day ahead, the mood throughout the school as she walked in was cheerful and, as her daughter fluttered away inside her once again, Rachel found herself with a smile on her face.

Eddie's appearance in her office was a welcome one, too. "Can I have a word?"

"You can go mad and have several, if you like." She tossed him a grin over her shoulder, distracted as he trailed after her into the office, closing the door behind him. Now she felt the smallest flicker of worry. "What is it?"

"I don't want to worry or panic you…"

She made a small noise. "I knew this day was too good to be true. You're going to spoil it, aren't you?"

He blinked. "What?"

"I know this is rare as hen's teeth, but you are looking at a happy headmistress." She smiled at him, hoping to lighten his mood and the baffled look he had faded into something else.

"Why so happy?"

"Well, it's the end of term. And we're going to thrash Forest Mount at the spelling bee, and the football. I think this school is finally working out. Plus…" she smiled even wider. "Our daughter is apparently set to be a gymnast or a footballer, because she barely goes an hour without moving around in there."

He brightened at that, his own smile spreading across his lips.

"And," Rachel continued, "this is the first morning I've come in and not been greeted by gloom, disaster and distruction." She tossed the post onto her desk, and looked at him expectantly. "So what is it?"

"You know what? It can wait."

She frowned. "No, what is it?"

He hesitated, the cogs whirring practically visible. "What are you doing tonight?"

Rachel shot him a suspicious look, offset by the amusement that had her lips twitching. "Is this going to be another attempt to feed me? Because really Eddie, this is becoming a problem for you."

"Let me take you out. To celebrate."

"Celebrate what?"

He shrugged. "The end of term. Telling everyone about the baby. Thrashing Forest Mount."

His quip had her laughing lightly, while the words before had her beaming. "You really want to tell everyone?"

"I do." And now he held out his hand to her. "No time like the present."

There was a moment where she looked at him, before she rounded the desk and lightly placed her hand into his. "And then we celebrate."

He grinned. "And then we celebrate."

W.R.

Their fingers remained linked for as long as it took them to reach the corridor, where kids were already beginning to mill around and both their senses of professionalism kicked in. But it didn't feel like an end to separate- more of a beginning. Rachel's felt her heart begin to beat faster as the warmth of Eddie's skin left hers, and instantly he shifted, moving his body to flank hers, reducing the possibility of anyone knocking into her.

She should feel stifled. Instead, she felt warm.

The staff room was, as she'd suspected, not quite as full as usual. But most of the usual suspects were present, and she had no doubt that the gossip would fly fast enough to reach everyone. "Right folks, Forest Mount are here." A myriad of expressions looked back at her as she spoke. Matt looked terrified, for some reason, a couple of history teachers at the back just looked bored and it hadn't escaped her notice how Tom and Davina had sprung apart as she walked in. That was sweet, she thought absently. Eddie was silent as he stood beside her, hands shoved in his pockets as she spoke quickly. "When it's all over, drinks are on me," she promised, before hesitating and glancing at Eddie. He nodded almost imperceptibly. "One more thing…" Her call had the few people who had begun to rise pausing, sinking back into their seats. She plastered on an expression that hid her nerves. "It'll be obvious enough come September anyway, but I thought I'd get ahead of the gossip." She deliberately didn't look towards Eddie. "I'll be here until October half term but after that you'll have to put up with Eddie in charge for a bit, whilst I'm on maternity leave."

There was a beat that felt like an eternity while the faces in front of her processed what she'd said, while her heart hammered in her chest. It was, somewhat unsurprisingly, Steph who spoke first from behind them. "You're pregnant?"

Rachel attempted a smile over her shoulder. "I am." She took a deep breath. "And Eddie is the father."

Resounding silencing.

Her heart thumped wildly, and those little flutters she'd felt last night started up again, double time, even as her stomach sank. She couldn't focus enough the see the myriad of expressions in front of her, couldn't focus much on anything until, without warning, Tom stepped forward. "That's wonderful." To Rachel's surprise, he stepped forward and pressed a kiss to her cheek, before turning and holding out his hand to Eddie. "Congratulations, both of you."

His actions unleashed an avalanche. More voices rose up, calling out congratulations and well wishes and the knot in Rachel's throat eased somewhat, even as she plastered on a smile and accepted hugs and murmured thank yous when appropriate.

"I've got to go," she said hastily, remembering the group who would, undoubtedly, be attracting a lot of attention downstairs. "But thank you all!"

Her gaze met Eddie's, just for a moment, and she saw her own relief and happiness reflecting back at her. And then she was moving, striding down corridors that had become so familiar and, dare she say, welcoming.

The spelling bee was as entertaining and as well received as she'd dared to hope. Kids who usually wouldn't have given two hoots about a spelling contest were cheering and fully invested, the teachers were joining in and even Rachel found herself digging her nails into her palms in anticipation. It had been a perfect idea, she thought, and already found herself considering some sort of internal competition for the following year until another, more pressing concern made itself known.

"What's wrong?" Eddie leant over with a frown as she shifted, trying to judge the best time to leave. She shot him a grimace.

"Toilet break."

"Now?" He glanced towards the stage. "It's almost over!"

"It's your child's fault," she hissed. "I'll be back soon."

Another round of raucous cheering, and she stood, hurrying out even as her cheeks heated at the knowledge of the number of eyes watching her go.

The corridors were silent, the students not watching the spelling bee safely tucked away in classrooms and her boots clacked against the floor as if the school itself was punctuating how quickly she needed to move. Not that Eddie wasn't perfectly capable of stepping in if he had to, but this seemed a ridiculous reason to miss the kids' triumph.

"This better not be a sign of things to come," she muttered, half to herself and half to the baby. That was all she needed, a child with her father's sense of timing. She hastily washed her hands, barely drying them before she started her dash back towards the hall. She could hear the kids cheering distantly, hoped she hadn't missed the end.

Until suddenly, that wasn't her biggest concern. "Stuart?"

The man was skulking outside the doors to the hall, one hand pushed into his pocket as he peered through the glass. He looked up at her voice, and his lips twisted. "Rachel. I wondered why I couldn't see you in there."

She had no choice but to approach him. Her heart thumped wildly, drowning out the sound of her footsteps as she drew closer, arranging her expression into one she hoped looked calmer than how she felt. "What are you doing here?"

He smirked. "I thought I'd come see the reaction to my overnight delivery. Only you seem to have foiled that particular plan. No matter, though."

"Overnight delivery?" she repeated blankly. She saw his expression flicker.

"You don't know. Interesting."

She thought about pressing him for an explanation. Only to decide that it was hardly the most important thing here. "Stuart, why are you here? Why do you care?"

"Is that a serious question?"

"You can walk away, free and clear. We both can. Mutual distruction isn't necessary." She looked at him in frustration, aware of the rising noise from beyond the doors to the hall. Any minute now, the spelling bee would finish. Her absence would be noted, even if it wasn't remarked upon, and shortly after that the kids would pour out of the hall, and then who knew what would happen. She needed Stuart out of here.

Even as she thought it, the man himself was looking at her strangely, his eyes narrowing. "You don't know."

She frowned. "What don't I know?"

He stepped closer to her, expression darkening and Rachel stood still, raised her chin. She would not back down to this man, not again, even as he used his height to his advantage. "Your little guard dog isn't as well-leashed as you think," he said lowly, and her brow furrowed.

"What are you talking about?"

She very much disliked being on the backfoot with this man yet again.

But instead of answering, his gaze was fixed far lower than her face, and Rachel realised too late what she'd done. In a move she'd barely recognised that she'd started to make since discovering her pregnancy, she'd pressed her hand protectively over the slight curve of her stomach, as if she could cover the child inside her and shield her from the situation. But the move pulled at the fabric of her blouse, and now the small bump that she'd hidden for weeks was displayed for the man in front of her to see.

He was far from foolish.

"Are you pregnant?"

His voice had an odd tone to it, and despite herself, Rachel swallowed thickly. "Stuart…"

He let out a noise that was somewhere between a huff and a laugh. "Why didn't you tell me you were in a relationship? When I asked you for dinner?"

Once again, she found herself having to rapidly adjust to the change in topic. On the tip of her tongue were the words to deny it, to explain. Until she stopped herself. She looked at him, considering, and then instead- "Would you have believed me?"

He smiled that strange, half smile of his. "I suppose not."

Without warning, the noise level inside the hall exploded. Whoops and cheers and whistles sounded, drawing both of their attention for a second. Stuart stepped backwards, away from her. "Sounds like you're needed."

She didn't move. "Why did you come here?"

"Does it matter?"

"Yes."

She was tired of this, tired of his games. She felt that flutter again, deep inside her, reminding her of all the reasons she needed this to end. Stuart was looking at her, an unreadable expression on his face.

"Go inside, Rachel. We can talk later."

She looked at him suspiciously, but he was already backing away. And the kids were still cheering and clapping, and even if her earlier good mood was ruined, she wanted to be in that hall. Stuart was walking away, admittedly slowly, but still walking.

A leap of faith, she decided, and opened the door.

She slipped down the side of the crowd towards the stage, and no one shot her odd looks so she assumed her exit and re-entrance had gone largely unremarked upon. Eddie shot her a grin and a nod as she waited for quiet- to assure her Waterloo Road had won? She had the scoreboard for that. Or simply in support? Either way, she didn't return the look, and saw the way his smile faltered even as she turned her attention to the crowd. "Congratulations to Waterloo Road spellers!" she exclaimed, and prompted another round of cheering.

She smiled, and shoved down on the sick feeling in her stomach even as she wished breaking the news about her pregnancy was her only worry of the day. She spoke quickly, sincerely, thanking the relevant people up and then directing everyone off to the relevant places, hoping she didn't sound dismissive. She'd vaguely planned what to say, before this. Now, she just needed them all to leave.

The noise rose as the crowd clambered to their feet, and she made sure to flash a smile and give a warm congratulations to the four students who filed off the stage in front of her. Eddie was heading in her direction anyway- she simply stayed still, waiting until he drew closer before she snaked a hand out and grabbed his arm, pulling him away from the crowd.

"What was it you came to tell me this morning?"

Eddie resembled an owl in the way his eyes went wide and blinked several times. Her voice was barely more than a hiss, her jaw set and her whole being tense.

"Well?"

Impatience wove through her voice, along with a note of something that had Eddie uncomfortably suspicious this wasn't a random question. "Why?"

The final students were just ushered out by Tom, the doors thudding shut behind them and without hesitation, Rachel whirled on her heel and stalked off towards them. Eddie spluttered. "Rachel!"

"I'm betting Stuart Hordley will tell me!"

She barely made it another three steps before an arm hooked around her waist, pulled her to a stop and she spun around to glare at Eddie, whose own face was set into lines of unhappiness. "I didn't lie to you," he reminded her. "You knew there was something to tell you."

"And then you purposefully distracted me so that I wouldn't ask questions." Her voice was flat, unhappy. The hall around them was empty now, misaligned chairs and an empty stage the only proof that the room had been filled with people not ten minutes previously. Eddie's sigh echoed around it.

"You were happy," he said quietly, and felt her still. They were stood too close, sharing space thanks to his method of stopped her exit and now neither needed to raise their voices to be heard. "You were happier than I'd ever seen you, Rachel, and I won't apologise for trying to preserve that for just a little bit longer."

For several moments, she only looked at him. "What did he do?"

She already knew some of it, he realised. "There were envelopes in all of the cubby holes this morning," he said, as gently as he could. "They had copies of the newspaper article."

Her eyes closed, all of the anger and bravado flooding from her at once. "Oh my God."

His hands came up to her arms, steadying and comforting all at once. "I got rid of them, Rach. No one knows."

"Stuart does." She opened her eyes, looked at him. "That's why I took so long. He was here, Eddie. And I don't think he's going to go away."