Hi everyone, I'm sorry for such the long wait on updates life has been a little crazy lately. I hope you like this chapter, i think it will start to answer some unanswered questions floating around in the last chapter.

Thank you to everyone that has read and reviewed i love hearing your feedback.

This chapter is dedicated to my good friend Chloe ( RachelMasonFan39)!

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She noticed the small nod of the head as Eddie smiled at her, watching him step to the side and stretch out his arm, guiding the way for the woman who could make his head spin a mile a minute and cause his heart bounce around inside his chest.

"After you, Ms. Mason, guide the way."

...

Chapter 4

Walking back up the stairs Rachel couldn't help but notice how close Eddie was walking behind her, the way his hand brushed hers as he moved to stand next to her as the entrance widened into the reception of the hotel. How he extended his arm, guiding her in the direction of the bar.

Every nerve ending Rachel had stood on end, the hairs on the back of her neck rose and her palms began to sweat, she was all too aware of the love she still held deep within her for the man who stood at her side, too familiar with all the times she had wished things had been different for them both and how she hated herself for marrying the, useless, miserable, disloyal, controlling, bastard that was now her husband.

She had no clue what was happening to her. How, in the space of one hour had her very boring, mundane, unhappy life suddenly turned into one of excitement, one of hope.

But she knew she was being silly. What did she have to hope for? What excitement could she possibly have? She had 24 hours. That was all. A beautiful, yet far too short 24 hours. There were no 12-week school terms where they would see each other every day. There were no more hormonal teenagers to deal with as a united front on a daily basis, no six weeks holidays where they could spend their time exploring anywhere and everywhere, and there were no Sundays. A day that had unceremoniously been named their day. A day where Rachel would cook and Eddie would pour wine; sitting at the table reading the paper or looking over a school document that needed completing by the next morning, setting them aside; waiting for Rachels signature. Gone were the days of Eddie and Rachel, long gone were the times of happiness and true love. No, all Rachel had was 1 day.

Following Eddie's outstretched arm Rachel walked into the bar. Looking around she recognised a couple of faces from the conference. All of which shared her expression of boredom and sheer relief that their first day of the course was finally over.

"What would you like to drink? Red wine?" Eddie's words very quicky broke her thoughts, her eyes looking up at him, a soft smile playing across her lips. "That would be lovely, thank you." Watching him as he spoke quietly to the young bar man Rachel couldn't help but let her mind wander back to all those years before, where they had spent many an evening together nursing glasses of red after yet another eventful day at Waterloo Road. 'After all this time he still remembers' Rachel thought to herself feeling her stomach begin to flutter once again, watching has he turned round and smiled at her. "You ready? We can go sit over there by the window if you want?" With a nod Eddie led the way to the far corner of the bar. A large window framing the beautiful garden housed in the hotel grounds, a large decking area with tables and chairs laid out elegantly facing the large expanse of grass and perfectly pruned flowerbeds.

They were both silent for a couple of minutes, realisation finally sinking in for the both of them. Neither knew what to do with themselves, they were sat close enough to each other for their knees to be able to touch, close enough that if one moved even slightly their fingers would trace over the others; as they rested them in the space between them on the large, plush sofa they sat on. Finally looking up at him, Rachel knew she had to speak, the hours were counting down, the seconds were disappearing with every silent minute. "It's so good to see you, Eddie." She couldn't control it; the words fell out of her mouth before she even had a chance to think, a smile spreading across her face. It was like her subconscious knew, knew that she was finally where she was really meant to be. That she could; for the first time in as long as she could remember, relax. Relax so freely that she didn't have to watch what she said or how she said it, she didn't have to worry about upsetting her companion by doing something completely unknown to her like placing her knife in the wrong position, or placing her used napkin on top of her finished plate. 'oh God Rachel, i hate people like you!' Adam would always say to her. Apparently, her table manners were 'despicable and embarrassing.' How placing a used napkin on top of a used plate was despicable and embarrassing she was yet to find out but he would always end it with. 'Just like those feral kids you had running around that place you called a school.'

Rachel felt a blush rise in her cheeks as Eddie smiled down at her, she could feel the butterflies in her stomach; the flutter as his eyes roamed over her face slowly. "Yeh, it's good to see you too. It's been a long time." She watched as Eddie's eyes followed her hand as she reached out for her drink, noticing how his expression changed to contemplation as his brows sewed together and one raised ever so slightly.

"How long have you been married?" She felt blindsided, her heart rate rising as she pulled her hand back from her glass to rest in her lap. 'Well, here goes nothing.' Rachel thought to herself. Unable to look at him she began to nervously twist the ring on her third finger, subconsciously pulling it off as she spoke. "Erm... just gone 8 years now." In that moment Rachel hated herself, hated nearly every aspect of her miserable life. 'Why hadn't I just taken it off?' Her thoughts were broken by a quiet voice coming from the left of her.

"Are you happy?" Rachel felt sick. Why did he have to ask her that? Why did he have to ask her the one thing that had the ability to break her. Because the truth was, she wasn't happy, she hadn't been happy since the day Eddie left. Not on her wedding day, not on her honeymoon and not on any of the other days she had spent since then in a controlling, loveless marriage with a man who gave her no attention and was barely ever home.

She heard a breath of air be puffed out of Eddie's cheeks. She knew that sound, she'd heard it a few times from him before; like he was holding on for her answer. Holding his breath for as long as he possibly could, only releasing it when his lungs began to burn. "Rach?"

She couldn't bare it; she could hear the heaviness in his question. How was she even meant to answer that question? If she told the truth Rachel would finally break down and become a blubbering mess in the space of 20 seconds. Or, if she lied, she'd tell the only man she had every truly loved whole heartedly that she was in fact in a happy, loving marriage. That wouldn't work either. Despite neither of them having seen each other in nearly a decade Rachel had a very strong feeling that Eddie Lawson could still see straight through her, would know within a second that she wasn't telling the truth and that in itself would properly make her cry more than it should.

Finally looking up at him, Rachel watched as his eyes scanned her face, taking in every line, every curve, every tiny indentation. At last, his eyes settled on hers, his head tilting slightly to left. He was waiting for an answer. "Eddie..." Rachel practically whispered, her hand moving slowly from her lap to the space between them, her fingers tips touching the very end of Eddie's long fingers. "I..."

As quick as the moment between them began it was over. The figure of a tall, suit clad man standing Infront of them, breaking the spell they found themselves in. 'Thank god for that' Rachel thought to herself. When her day had begun, she had no idea that she would end it sat with Eddie Lawson, trying to avoid talking about a part of her life that she wished more than anything didn't exist. Well... With one exception of course.

...

What is the exception?! I'm sure we'll find out in the next chapter! Thank you so much to everyone who has read this chapter, i'm really enjoying writing this fic. And a special thanks again to Chloe!