Was it safe for her to finally begin to feel hopeful again, did she trust herself enough to listen to her gut instinct and go with what felt right? Smiling to herself Rachel picked up a huge pile of paper work, shoving it into her bag. Well, there was only one way to find out.

...

Chapter 4

Rachel walked over to the window as she pulled her coat over her shoulders, catching a glimpse of Eddie lowering Jospeh into the car, his coat blowing slightly beside him as the air whipped up, turning day to evening. She couldn't help but feel slightly overwhelmed. Everything was happening all in one go. She had got her life back, got her school back and now what? She gets Eddie back? All in the space of six months?

Watching as Eddie shut his son's door and looked up towards her office, Rachel knew in that moment that yes, she may very well be overwhelmed but for the first time in a very long time, it didn't feel nerve wracking. She felt like she was walking on a cloud, floating through the wind in the most beautiful way possible.

Turning back towards her desk as Eddie drove off, she grabbed her bag and laptop, throwing them over her shoulder and heading out the office door. Working her way through the stretch of corridors and out of the main entrance to her car.

Lifting the boot, she dropped her things in and closed it swiftly, hearing her phone ping in her pocket. Eddie's name flashed up on the screen; a message with his new address. Rachel didn't know how Eddie knew she still had the same number; not even questioning her when asking about the address earlier, but it warmed her heart all the same to know he had kept it; even after all this time. Rachel didn't want to think about what it meant for herself, the fact that Eddie's name had flashed up on her phone too. Her little hidden secret of the past that she just couldn't bear to part with.

...

As Eddie pulled into his drive, he looked one last time in his centre mirror before stopping the car and pulling up the hand break. Turning to Joseh Eddie Smiled. "Right little man, shall we get you inside and fed and ready for bed?" The little boy looked back at his father with a smile, pulling on the straps of his car seat, eager to get out. "One second son, I'll come get you out." unplugging his seat belt and opening the door Eddie walked around the car, pulling at the door handle and lowering his head to Joseph. Pressing the button to release the straps he carefully took his son from the car, resting him on his hip as he moved to the boot to get their bags.

"We've got a guest tonight Joseph my lad, do you remember Rachel? The lady you were with at the school before daddy came to pick you up?" Eddie spoke as he lowered the toddler to his feet Infront of the front door. Jospeh looked up, leaning his head to the side, watching as his father put the key in the lock. "Daddy, I'm hungry."

With a chuckle Eddie pushed open the door, letting the boy run into the house. "Joseph, come here please, we need to take your shoes and coat off." As the small boy came running back, Eddie knelt down. "So, what would you like to eat, Rachel told me you had a sandwich earlier, what did you have?" Twisting his arms out of his sleeves, Joseph sat down, pulling at the velco on his shoes. "Chicken!" Eddie smiled at his son. "Chicken? You sure it wasn't ham?" The boy looked at his father once more, a small frown playing on face as he thought. "Yeh daddy, ham!"

Standing again Eddie ruffled the top of the child's hair. "Right Mr, let's go see what we can find you to eat ayy, I think we've got some turkey dinosaurs and spaghetti shapes in the cupboard. The boy ran into the kitchen, Eddie not far behind, exclamations of "dinosaur" running through the house.

...

"As Rachel stepped out of the car, she couldn't help but take a quick look around. 'His house is bigger now' she thought to herself. 'Probably have to be, with the little one."

Walking to the door, she shifted her bag on her shoulder, bringing it up higher as she stretched out her arm to ring the doorbell. Taking a deep breath Rachel waited, listening as laughter got closer to the door. As the door opened, she couldn't help but smile. Eddie stood in the door way, a smiling joseph wearing tractor pyjamas resting in his arms. As she made eye contact with Eddie, a smile tugging further across her lips, she stretched out her arm, ruffling the boy's hair. "Hello Joseph, I like your pyjamas." Jospeh smiled as he wiggled out of his father's arms. "Look!" he exclaimed holding up a small plastic figure, wiggling it around in front of him. His little face beaming as he showed Rachel his toy animal.

Rachel bent down, holding out her hand gently, watching as Jospeh placed the toy in her palm. "Oh wow! A pig! That's fantastic! Do you like pigs?" The toddler pulled his toy from Rachel's fingers, making oink noises as she spoke to him. Hearing her question the small boy stopped and smiled. "Yes, on the farm." He stopped talking and lifted his arms, looking up at Rachel expectantly. "Up!" Opening and shutting his hands, waiting to be picked up.

Chuckling Eddie watched Rachel pick up his son. "Looks like you've made a new friend." Taking a step to the side he pulled the door open further, letting her walk into the house, shutting the door behind her as he turned and headed down the hallway. "Come through to the kitchen, I've just got to make Joseph's beaker of milk and get him in bed and I'll be all yours."

Following Eddie, Rachel couldn't help but look around. Photos of Joseph and Eddie scattered the walls of the hall, photos of them at Christmas, of Joseph on his first and second birthday, of them at the beach; perfectly framed stills of their life together over the last two years. However, Rachel couldn't help but notice there were no photos of a new born Joseph, the earliest being when the child was roughly three or four months old and absolutely no indication of there being a mother in the picture at all.

In that moment Rachel realised there was a big gap of Eddie's life she now knew nothing about. The last three years had been life changing for her, her marriage lasting a mere 12 months, but apparently, Eddie's life had changed dramatically too. Their lives had moved in such different directions since they last saw each other that it was almost incomprehensible to Rachel that they had managed to end up on the same path again.

Walking into the kitchen, Joseph still in her arms Rachel moved to the dining table, pulling out a chair with her free hand and sitting down, resting joseph on her lap. she watched as Eddie pottered around the kitchen, opening and closing doors as he found what he needed for his son.

"Would you like a drink? I've got a bottle of wine in the fridge if you fancy a glass, I'll join you once I've got Joseph in bed." Smiling, Rachel looked down at the small boy in her arms. He was now leaning back on her chest, his little hands rubbing at his eyes. "Yeh, that would be lovely thank you. I think you've got one tired little boy tonight, Eddie." Rachel pulled her arms around the toddler, holding him in safely as his head lolled slightly, sleep setting in.

Turning around as he pushed the fridge door shut Eddie looked over to Rachel and Joseph, her body leaning back in her chair, letting the boy sleep more comfortably. "I think he's had a very busy day." Eddie laughed, pouring Rachel's glass of wine before going back to the fridge. "He's normally in bed by now." Stopping for a second Eddie couldn't believe image Infront of him, his son fast asleep in the love his Lifes arms as her fingers brushed through his blond hair soothing him as he slept. His heart leaped.

Walking over, glass in one hand, beaker in the other Eddie sat them down with a sad smile. "It's almost a shame to move him, he looks so settled." Moving to stand Infront of Rachel Eddie bent down to pick up his son, careful not to wake him as he moved around the table, picking up the beaker he had set down a minute before. "I'll be back down in a minute," Eddie told her, moving to the door of the kitchen. "Just going to put him to bed,"

Rachel nodded and smiled. It really was something to see Eddie with a child. Well, a young child.

She had seen him at work every day dealing with teenagers, ones who hadn't had the best start in life; the ones who were labelled 'challenging'. His patience was second to none; learning new ways to work with these pupils in a way that let them express themselves and their emotions safely, supporting them in their decisions and guiding them gently as they navigated life.

She had watched him as he brought a card to her office, placing it on her desk to show her. A thank you note that had literally been shoved in his hands by a very embarrassed Paul, thanking him for helping him get away from his uncle and taking him on the school trip, explaining he had enjoyed it even though Bolton had ruined it for everyone else.

And she had studied him as a look of relief and happiness etched itself on his face once she'd read the note, affirming to himself that he was doing his best by the kids and affirming to her that he really did have a heart of gold.

But, watching him with Joseph, a two-year-old little boy, who had the whole world at his feet; a little boy who was completely Eddie in every single way possible. That was completely different.

She realised she had craved to see this side of him. She knew how deeply Eddie cared for his students, often seeing glimpses of his paternal instinct kick in when he would come to her, infuriated by the way a parent had behaved regarding their child. Demanding that 'they deserved better' when the lack of compassion for their son or daughter irritated him. In those moments in time, Rachel couldn't help but wonder what type of people those children would be if they had had Eddie in their lives earlier.

She would often catch him tapping a pupil on the back or praising them for something they had done, and she would smile. Smile with pride for her deputy and with love for the man who had stolen her heart.

And in those moments, the ones where he had showed her how deeply he cared, she had craved more. Craved to see him become a parent again, craved to watch him nurture and love a tiny little human being. Their little human being.

Bringing herself back to reality, Rachel began to think. Their time together had been too short and everything she had craved and wished for so deeply had been ripped away from her so cruelly that it felt like the invisible chain that linked herself and Eddie together had become broken. Separating them in the most heartbreaking way, sending them in complete opposite directions. Both had moved so far away from each other that the things they had wanted, they had got. But not with each other.

Rachel's thoughts were broken by a smiling Eddie walking into the kitchen. Noticing that her glass was still in the same place; not a mouthful taken he frowned slightly, walking around the kitchen island taking the wine from the fridge and the empty glass he had set aside for himself earlier. "Rach, you, ok?" he asked as he poured himself a drink.

Rachel nodded, picking up her glass and taking a sip. A technique she had learned many years ago as a way of distracting herself. "Yeh sorry, it's been a long day. Did Joseph go down ok?" Picking up his glass Eddie walked towards her, pulling out a chair and sitting next to her on the circle table. "Out like a light, you must have a magic touch, normally it takes a good 20 minutes to settle him and you got him to sleep twice in one day! Do you fancy coming round to do bedtime every night? He'll be asleep in seconds"

Eddie laughed, looking over to Rachel watching her start to smile. "He's a lovely little boy Eddie, very clever too, must take after his dad."

In that moment her mind began to wander again, imagining what it would be like to have a family with Eddie Lawson, a child they shared together that she would put to bed each night with a story and a kiss on the forehead.

Her thoughts were interrupted as she caught Eddie looking down into his wine glass, a blush spreading softly across his cheeks. "Thank you, I try my best with him. It was hard when I first had him, I must admit, but I think we're doing well now, he's happy and he's healthy, that's good enough for me right now." Rachel leaned over, placing her hand on top of Eddie's, offering him comfort in the only way she could right now. "Well, I think you've done amazing with him, he's a very lucky little boy to have you as a father."

Lifting his head, Eddie moved his hand from underneath hers, replacing it quickly with his one top of hers, his fingers curling softly around her hand, giving a gentle squeeze. "Thank you, that means a lot coming from you."

In that moment they were silent, looking at each other; taking in the moment they found themselves in. It was quarter to 8 on a Monday evening, Eddie's son was sleeping peacefully upstairs and they were sat together drinking wine after a long day. What more could either of them need right now?

It was Eddie who broke the silence first, hearing Rachel's stomach growl in the most perfect of timing. With a chuckle he tapped the top of her fingers and gently pulled his hand away, standing and walking over to a draw in the kitchen. "You hungry Ms Mason? Here, there's a few menus there. Take your pick."

As Eddie placed the menus on the table Rachel tugged at the black and pink piece of paper tucked into the pile. "How about a curry?" she asked, holding up the menu of her favourite Indian take away.

Eddie laughed, taking the menu gently from her fingers. "Some things never change. I bet you still order the same thing too." Rachel narrowed her eyes at him, a mock look of annoyance playing on her face, a smirk being the only thing to betray her. "Are you making fun of me Mr Lawson?"

Turning around to pick his phone up off the island Eddie looked over at her, a wide smile now sweeping across her face. "I'll take that as a yes then."

Looking down at his phone Eddie dialled the number of the take away, surprising her as he reeled off their order perfectly, noticing how nothing had changed or been added over the years. Rachel didn't want to think about what it meant that they both remembered what the other would order, didn't want to think about what it meant for them to be sat together again, sharing a bottle of wine and a curry. She didn't want to think at all, but could she dare to hope?

The night may be creeping in but their time together was just starting and Rachel was determined to find out everything she could about Eddie Lawson and his son. Determined to find out where the young boy's mother was and she was determined to do everything she could to keep them both very firmly planted on the same path as her, together. She had lost Eddie Lawson before, lost every hope and dream she had for them both. Now fate had played its hand and had brought him back to her, there was no way she was going to let him go. Not again.

As the phone call ended, Eddie placed his phone back down on the kitchen side before coming back to sit down next to her. "So, come on then, tell me. What was your first day back at Waterloo Road like?" Rachel laughed, putting her hand to her forehead before sweeping it over her fringe. "Oh Eddie," she laughed again in disbelief, "it's worse than when I got there the first time, I've got my work cut out over the next few months that's for sure. And I don't even know where to start with the paperwork, it's like it hasn't been done in 6 months."

Eddie laughed, a proper whole hearted laugh. "And I bet you've brought it home with you too, haven't you?" Rachel chose to ignore the use of the word 'home' despite her belly starting to flipflop the second the word left his mouth, choosing to focus on the knowing look now resting on Eddie's face instead. "Of course, I have! I'm going to be here for weeks trying to put it right." A smile played across Eddie's face; watching her become more animated the more she spoke.

"Come on then, show me what you've got, let's see what we can get done before the food arrives." Noticing the look of shock on Rachels face, Eddie laughed again holding his hand out to her waiting for the paperwork; offering her help in the one area he was an expert in.

If there was one thing Rachel Mason was good at it was being a head teacher, and, if there was one thing Eddie Lawson was good at it was being a deputy. Putting them both together created a force to be reckoned with. Rachel Mason may have her work cut out but with Eddie Lawson by her side, she knew anything was possible.

Rachel nodded and placed her glass down on the table a smirk now on her lips. "Eddie Lawson, are you offering to be my stand in deputy?" Eddie didn't have words for her, instead choosing to laugh and watch her as she stood. In that moment he realised he was willing to be anything she wanted; he had no clue what had brought her crashing back into his life but one thing he was sure of, he was going to make sure she stayed there, in whatever capacity she would let him.

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."

...

Thank you so much for reading this chapter, they seem to be getting longer and longer the more the story goes on.

Thank you to everyone who has read and reviewed so far, i love hearing what you think.

And a special thankyou to Chloe ( RachelMasonFan39)for her advice with certain parts of this chapter. It had me in a brain funk for at least an hour!

L.W x