Watching him, Rachel stood, letting out a small laugh. "They're in the car, I'll go and get them." as she headed down the corridor, she threw one last laugh over her shoulder. " I hope you know what you've let yourself in for."

...

Chapter 5

45 minutes later both Eddie and Rachel were sat with their heads buried in folders. Report after report, budget sheet after budget sheet. Shaking her head Rachel looked up from the unsigned document lying on the table in front of her. Reaching out to get her now very nearly empty wine glass, she sighed. "Oh, Eddie this is ridiculous. How this woman kept her job for so long is beyond me, I've looked over at least a dozen budget sheets and not one has been signed, and as for the department reports, it looks like they haven't been done since the day i left."

Eddie couldn't help but let out a small laugh, it always amazed him how she could switch into work mode within a second. He could see the annoyance on her face as he watched her run her fingers over the stack of unlooked at folders. "I'm going to have come back and left again before i even get half way through this lot."

Putting down the pen in his hand, Eddie pushed back on his chair, letting his legs stretch out in front of him. "Looks like you've come back just at the right time then."

Eddie was interrupted as the doorbell rang, alerting them both that their food had arrived and they were finally free from the shackles that was well over due paperwork. "Thank the lord for that, I thought I'd be writing my name all night at this rate" With a laugh Eddie walked off down the hall, opening the door and thanking the man who handed him their food.

Walking back into the kitchen he couldn't help but wonder at the sight in front of him. Rachel was stood with her back to him, two plates in one hand while the other rummaged around in the cutlery draw, pulling out knives, forks and spoons as she went. "You found your way around then Ms Mason?" Eddie sniggered. Rachel spun around, a slight pink flush tickling her cheeks, her heart beat picking up slightly as she laughed back at him. "It appears Mr Lawson, that while you may have a new house, you still keep everything in the same place as your old one."

Rachel didn't want to think about what it meant that she still remembered where everything was kept in his home, how easy it was for her to walk around on autopilot pulling out the things they needed with ease. Didn't want to think about how, despite the years they had lost together and how much they had to relearn about each other, Eddie Lawson was the one thing in her life that would never change.

"Creature of habit, i guess." Eddie replied a soft smile pulling at the corners of his mouth. "Besides, everything's in one place that way. Nothing worse than going to make a brew and having to walk half a mile to get a spoon."

Eddie stood watching her as she walked towards him, placing the plates and cutlery on the side in front of her. He didn't want to think about how, after all this time and a brand-new house he hadn't changed a thing. The glasses were still in the top cupboard above the kettle, the cutlery in the draw below, the plates and bowls in the bottom cupboard to the left; right next to the fridge. He didn't want to think about how easy it was for him to watch her wander around his kitchen bare foot as her shoes lay neatly next to the chair she had sat in 5 minutes earlier. Didn't want to think about how perfect the image in front of him was, how simple the world seemed with Rachel Mason simply stood in his kitchen.

Eddie's thoughts were interrupted as Rachel spoke, moving the plates so they sat next to each other. "Shall we dish this up then?" With a nod Eddie settled the takeaway bag down, beginning to pull out the trays of food and lay them out on the worktop. "Do you want to do the honours?" He asked as he finished emptying the bag. "While i pour us both another drink?"

...

20 minutes later Eddie and Rachel sat in the living room, empty dinner plates and wine glasses abandoned on the table in front of them, the tv; sat in the right-hand corner of the room, quietly humming in the background. Looking around Rachel took in her surroundings. The toy box resting Infront of the radiator to her left, toys brimming out of the top, a small bookcase arranged neatly; stacked with children's books to the right of it, a beanbag adorned with little cartoon dinosaurs settled into the corner; a small reading nook for the young boy now sleeping peacefully upstairs.

Following her line of sight, Eddie watched as Rachel's eyes skimmed the room, taking in every tiny detail as she always did, noticing anything and everything that happened around her. "Looks like Joseph takes after his father." Rachel nodded towards the bookcase. "I can count 5 books on numbers just sat here." Eddie laughed, a whole hearted laugh that rang through her ears so perfectly she hadn't realised just how much she had missed it until a sense of calmness she hadn't felt for over three years washed over her body. It was like rereading a book; knowing the ending so well, a sense of peace envelopes the body, knowing every character, every setting, every bit of the story so well that the ending brings happiness and reassurance in the knowledge that things have stayed that same.

"We'll make a mathematician out of him yet." Eddie looked down at his hands realising his mistake, a feeling of awkwardness beginning to run through his body as he looked back up, trying to recover himself quickly.

At the use of the word 'we' Rachel turned her head, catching the rose tint that began to touch his cheeks, his eyes fixing back on her as he spoke again quickly. "Smart lad, my boy."

Reaching over Rachel rested her hand on top of Eddie's, her fingers gently tapping the top of his knuckles. "Oh, I'm sure, with a math's genius for a father I'm sure Joseph will be in university by the time he's 11." Her lips twitched upwards, a hint of playfulness in her tone. Eddie smirked back in reply "Well, he's already at Waterloo Road and he's only two. Watch out Ms Mason, he'll be teaching your year 8's Pythagoras in two months." Rachel scanned Eddie's face, her eyes resting on his smile as he chuckled, still all too familiar with the feeling in her stomach his joy brought her, his laugher sounding like music to her after spending so long living in what felt like silence. "I better get on the phone first thing then, get him on my pay roll, if he's anything like his father he'll be my deputy by the end of the first term."

At this Rachel's smile dropped slowly and a slight frown etched its way across her forehead as a thought popped into her head. "Where are you working now Eddie, last i heard you were temporary head for St Mary's. But then again, that was what? Over three years ago now, i guess a lot can change in that time." She let a small smile pull at the corners of her lips as she squeezed Eddie's hand gently before pulling away, turning to look at her empty glass on the table, wanting nothing more right now than to distract herself with red wine. The mood had suddenly changed, the feeling of the air closing in around her took over her senses, but, for the first time since she had sent Eddie away all those years ago did she feel like she wasn't suffocating, that the weight of the whole world wasn't resting solely on her shoulders. That now, she could finally shake off years of what ifs and maybes.

Whatever this moment was with Eddie, Rachel knew that eventually the conversation would move on to their personal lives, what they had lived through separately over the last three years, what traumas they had to go through alone. But she was ready. In that moment, looking around Eddie's living room, him sat at her side, she knew she was ready to hear every last detail of his life. What he's doing now. is he happy? What's the story of his little boy? Is he a single parent? And if so, where was little Joseph's mother?

"I'm at St Thomas's now, other side of town; head of the maths department." Rachel raised her eye brows and looked over Eddie's expression. "Head of maths? Eddie you should be deputy head of the school not head of maths; in fact, you should be a head by now. Your knowledge and compassion for those kids..." Rachel stopped talking as she took in the look Eddie was giving her, she knew that look, he would always make the same face when he couldn't do something he wanted to do, when something was just so slightly out of his reach that his expression would show is upset and sadness. Much like when he came back early from the camping trip he had organised for the students, the look of saddened defeat for something he had worked hard for evident on his face.

"Are you happy Eddie?" She couldn't help but ask. His expression as he watched her talk giving more away to her than he would probably like right now. She knew how hard he had worked when he was her deputy. Knew how he always wanted the best for his students, always able to help them find a solution to their problems, guide them gently through their teenage years, teaching them things their own parents should have been teaching them. So why would he take the position of head of department when he was worth so much more? His teaching ability and eye and heart for pastoral care made him so perfect for a headship that it surprised her he would take a step down in his professional career.

Eddie's eye lids flickered slightly as he heard Rachel ask him the one question he asked himself on a daily basis. Was he happy? How could he give her an answer to that when he didn't even have one for himself. Deciding that the best way to move on right now was by not answering at all; choosing instead to answer her previous question about his job. "I did get offered the deputy headship, but i turned it down." looking away from her for a second Eddie collected his thoughts before turning back, a look of sorrow and confusion etched into Rachel's features as he looked at her, the tenderness in her reply, taking him by surprise slightly. "Oh Eddie why? You're a brilliant deputy."

In that moment Rachel decided she didn't want to think of the answer to her question, especially since Eddie had chosen not to answer her. She wanted nothing more than for him to be happy, to have a life he could sit and smile about when he got a quiet five minutes to himself. But the idea of Eddie being unhappy was a thought that caused her heart to drop a little and made her heart beat falter slightly. No, she couldn't go there choosing instead to happily accept the interruption of her thoughts as Eddie spoke again.

"I couldn't really accept it after finding out about Joseph. A few years ago, maybe but now? Things are different." Rachel tilted her head, listening intently as Eddie continued to talk. "I love being a deputy Rach i really do but my priorities have changed. The day that little boy came into my life i knew i couldn't give up on him, not after Stephen and Micheal. And, after what melissa did..." At this Eddie's words cut out. His line of sight moving from Rachels face to the coffee table, staring intently at the coaster resting under his wine glass.

Rachel couldn't help but feel slightly uncomfortable, she knew the pain her sister had put Eddie through; hearing first hand from Philip how his mother had lied about the paternity of her baby. Well, according to Melissa she got her dates wrong, having had a one night stand the evening Eddie and Melissa had broken up, swearing completely that she had been loyal to Eddie through the entirety of their relationship. However, Rachel couldn't help but wonder if Melissa knew all along that Eddie wasn't her baby's father, deciding to come to the school that day through spite and jealousy; knowing Eddie and her sister were now in the happy relationship together and her son was currently living with said sister and ex in her sister's big house in the less poverish side of Rochdale. Either way, the way her sister had treated Eddie was disgraceful. Ruining a man's happiness was completely unacceptable. To lie about an unborn child's father and then disappear into thin air two weeks after giving birth, that was unforgivable. To make a man lose his happiness, relationship, job and his child all because of a cruel web lies and deceit, that was too vindictive to ever forgive or forget.

"I'm so sorry Eddie, What Melissa did to you... It's unforgivable, you didn't deserve that at all." She couldn't help but reach out again, her fingers curling around Eddie's as she watched his face fall with sadness. "I could still kill her for what she did, even now." Squeezing her fingers, Eddie turned back to look at her, a small sad smile resting on his face.

"It's not your fault. Besides it's a long time ago now, I've come to terms with it i think. Well, not with what she did to us but..." Eddie realised for the second time in the space of 15 minutes he had spoken his mind without thinking. It was true, he hadn't come to terms with how cruel Melissa had been, how happy it had made her to see his relationship with Rachel breakdown right in front of her eyes. The bitter, spiteful smile that spread across her cheeks as she gloated to her sister about her pregnancy and Eddie's want and need to not abandon his child.

But, to openly admit it to her, out loud? That was too much for Eddie to bare right now. His heart was starting to hurt with the memory of it all; a time when he had everything he wanted. The job he loved and a beautiful, intelligent woman who had made him the happiest he had ever been in his whole life. No, he couldn't go there right now, he was starting to feel the pain of losing everything he loved all over again and if he wasn't careful his heart would break right there and then Infront of them both.

The moment between the two was interrupted by a small, little boy's cry coming through the baby monitor that rested on the table to the left of the sofa. The cries of "daddy" getting louder by the second. Rachel could see; the very moment she heard Joseph's cry, Eddie's paternal instinct instantly kicked in; detangling their fingers and rising swiftly from the sofa to go and comfort his son as quickly as he could.

"Sorry Rach, give me a minute, I've just got to check on Joseph and then I'll be back down." Walking towards the door Eddie stopped for a second and smiled, making Rachel's heart flutter slightly. "There's still some wine left if you fancy it, you know where i keep it." With a smirk Eddie turned away, walking quickly down the hall way and up the stairs.

Rachel couldn't help but smile as she watched him leave, Eddie really was made to be a father. Finding out he had turned down the opportunity of a deputy headship initially confused Rachel, he was so good at his job and had worked so hard for it it made no sense to her for him to take a step down. However, watching his eyes shine and his face light up when talking about his son, Rachel could see that Eddie would do absolutely anything for his child, even if that meant taking a position that was 10 years below his professional career status.

Rising slowly from the sofa, Rachel smiled. She really didn't know how long she would be allowed to keep Eddie in her life for this time, but, one thing she knew was for sure. If given the opportunity, Rachel would fight tooth and nail to keep hold of Eddie Lawson forever, in whatever way that presented itself. She had let him go once before, there was no way she was going to make the same mistake twice.

...

Thank you so much to everyone who as read this chapter i know this one is another long one.

I'm sorry it's taken so long to update; this chapter has literally taken over a week to write. No words felt good enough.

Thanks for all the reviews i love hearing what all you guys think!

L.W x