Another hour had passed, and there was no sign of an ambulance coming to Waterloo Road. Eddie and Kim were growing more and more concerned.

Rachel was leaning over the arm of the sofa, swaying gently from side to side as she groaned and whimpered in pain. Things were progressing a lot quicker than she had expected, and it scared her. She'd never experienced pain like this before. Just when she thought it couldn't get any worse, it did.

Eddie desperately wanted to help her, but he didn't know how. She was in so much pain, and there was nothing he could do. He felt completely and utterly helpless.

He wandered over to her as she cried out in pain. He took her hand into his own, squeezing it reassuringly.

"Alright, love?"

Rachel shook her head frantically, holding the left side of her stomach. Eddie sighed heavily, rubbing her lower back with his free hand.

"You're doing so well" he soothed

"Where's the ambulance?" She whimpered

"I don't know love, but it's on the way, I promise" he replied

"I'm going to ring them again" Kim decided, stepping out of the room

Once the door was closed, Rachel let out another loud cry of pain. Eddie pulled her into his arms, holding onto her tightly as her body trembled with pain.

"I'm scared" she whispered

"I know, darling. I know. It won't be much longer now"

"I'm going to give birth in my office, aren't I?"

"No, we'll get you to hospital"

"I can't do this, I can't" she panicked, her breathing becoming rapid

Eddie tilted her chin with his hand. Her eyes were staring into his, pleading with him to make it stop.

"You can do this, just breathe"

Rachel shook her head.

"I can't- I... aaahh!!" she cried

"You can, darling" he promised

The scream that escaped Rachel's lips threatened to chill Eddie to the bone. She clung onto him tightly; her finger nails digging into his shoulders.

The door opened, Kim stepping back into the room. She smiled at Eddie nervously. Eddie could tell it wasn't good news.

"The ambulance is on its way" she told him

Eddie sighed heavily.

"They should have been on their way an hour ago!" He huffed

Kim could only shrug in response. She didn't know what was going on anymore than he did.

"I feel like I need to push" Rachel whispered

Eddie panicked, sitting Rachel down on the edge of the sofa.

"Alright, darling. The ambulance will be here in a minute, just hang in there, ok?" He encouraged

Rachel shook her head frantically.

"I can't!!" She cried, groaning into a push

"Rach, just breathe" he told her, rubbing her knee comfortingly

Rachel shook her head frantically, bearing down uncontrollably. She whimpered, feeling the baby's head move forwards.

"HELP ME!" She screamed

Eddie leapt into action, helping Rachel to remove her trousers and underwear. He then laid her back on the sofa so she was comfortable, covering her bottom half with his jacket.

"It's ok, I promise" he reassured, rubbing his hand across her forehead

Rachel whimpered, shifting uncomfortably.

Eddie turned to Kim.

"I don't know what to do" he whispered, watching helplessly as Rachel bore down into another push

Kim moved to sit in front of Rachel, parting her legs gently. The top of the baby's head was already in view.

"Alright, Rachel, it's ok. I can see the top of the baby's head, you're doing really well"

Rachel groaned in pain, reaching her hand out for Eddie as she pushed again. Eddie moved to sit beside her, wrapping her hand in his.

Kim watched on in amazement as the baby's head moved further into view.

Rachel cried out in pain, squeezing the life out of Eddie's hand. She sank back into the cushions, breathing heavily. Before she could even catch her breath, another contraction came, causing her to groan and push uncontrollably.

"Keep pushing, Rachel!" Kim encouraged

A blood curdling scream escaped Rachel's lips as the pain turned into relentless burning. She shifted uncomfortably on the sofa, moaning and whimpering in unbearable pain. Eddie rubbed her hand reassuringly, her cries of pain threatening to break his heart.

"It's ok, Rachel. Baby's head is crowning, just breathe" Kim reassured

Rachel shook her head frantically, her grip on Eddie's hand tightening as the burning grew stronger. It felt like her whole body was on fire, like her skin was being melted off. She was so tired. She just wanted it to stop; she wanted to hold her little girl in her arms.

"I can't do it" she sobbed, turning to Eddie, her body trembling with pain

"You can, darling. It's almost over" he reassured

Rachel cringed, bearing down uncontrollably. The burning sensation became the worst it had been in the last few minutes, causing her to let out a painful scream.

As she felt the baby's head slide out, she sighed in relief, the burning sensation temporarily dying away.

Kim smiled as the baby's head slid into her hand.

"You're doing so well, Rachel. The head is out, you're almost there" she announced

Eddie kissed Rachel's forehead gently as she looked up at him.

"Come on darling, you're doing so well" he encouraged

Rachel groaned, bearing down into another push. The burning sensation returned, but she pushed past it, determined to get through this. She screamed, her body trembling with excruciating pain. It felt like she was being torn in half!

And, finally, with one last push, it stopped. Rachel sank back into the pillows in relief, her heart pounding in her ears as silence filled the room. Her tight grip on Eddie's hand remained. She held her breath, waiting for a cry.

After what felt like hours, the cry of an infant echoed through the room. Rachel couldn't stop the tears from streaming down her face. She had waited nine months to hear that cry. So had Eddie. Their baby girl was here. She looked over at Eddie, who was crying too. He smiled at her, his eyes filled with love and relief.

"Hello, little one" Kim smiled, wrapping the tiny little girl in her cardigan

"Is she ok?" Rachel asked

Kim nodded.

"She's absolutely perfect"

Rachel smiled as Kim passed her daughter over to her. She carefully placed her on her chest, placing a soft kiss on her forehead. She had dreamed of this moment for such a long time, it was everything she could have wished for.

"Hello, darling" she whispered to the little girl

The baby settled at the sound of her voice, closing her eyes.

"She's gorgeous, Rach" Eddie smiled, kissing her forehead before kissing the baby's

At that moment, the paramedics entered the office. Eddie wanted to be angry at them for being so late. But he couldn't. His little girl was here and she was ok. Nothing else mattered.

A few minutes later, Rachel and the baby had been checked over and moved onto a stretcher. The baby's cord had been cut and she had been wrapped in a medical blanket. She was now lying contentedly in Rachel's arms again. All was well.

Before they knew it, they were in the back of the ambulance, ready to go to hospital. Rachel was asleep, their little girl resting securely on her chest. Eddie was watching the two of them, both fast asleep. It was the most beautiful sight. Eddie hadn't held his little girl yet, but it was ok. She was more than comfortable in her Mother's arms. He could have his turn later.

Everything was perfect.