Three hours later...

Rachel and Eddie were back from the hospital. Eddie had cooked them both pasta with a side of garlic bread. Philip hadn't come down for any, despite them shouting him to come down, so they had left him some in the fridge.

Rachel was resting on the sofa, on Eddie's orders. She wasn't complaining, she was quite tired. Plus, it meant she could look at the ultrasound photo for the thousandth time this evening and could compare it to the one she'd had a few weeks ago.

The baby had definitely grown since the first scan. They were less of a blob now and were slowly turning into the shape of a baby. Rachel could see the head, arms and legs more clearly this time and it was easier to distinguish between them. The sound of the baby's heartbeat was even more prominent this time around too. She and Eddie could have stayed in the hospital listening to it forever.

Their little one was perfect and growing healthily. Rachel finally felt like she was in the safe zone with the pregnancy. She felt positive and excited. It still felt a little surreal that there was a baby growing inside her, but it was slowly starting to sink in.

Eddie stepped into the living room, having just finished washing up. When he noticed Rachel was reading a pregnancy book, he couldn't help but be amused.

The smirk on his face had Rachel looking up at him with a frown.

"What's the matter with you?" she asked

"Nothing, just... where did you get that book from?" he questioned, sitting down beside her

"I got it from the Supermarket. I paid for it while you were browsing the beer aisle" she explained with a shrug, curling into his side

"Are you done hogging today's ultrasound photo now? Am I finally allowed to have a look?" he teased

Rachel smiled, pulling the treasured photo out of the book and handing it to him, along with the one they'd had a few weeks ago. Eddie couldn't stop himself from smiling as he gazed at the two images of the tiny baby.

"They've definitely grown, Rach" he commented

"I know" she replied, tracing her finger softly over the baby's tiny hand

"I love them so much already" she added

"Me too" he responded, placing a kiss in her hair

"Is it weird that I didn't want the scan to end?" she asked, looking up at him inquisitively

"No, I didn't want it to be over either"

"I just love seeing them. Did you see the way they were trying to wriggle around? I could have watched it forever!" Rachel gushed

Eddie smiled, delighting in the way Rachel's eyes lit up as she talked about their little one. He placed another kiss on her forehead, pulling her closer to him. She was going to be the best Mother.

"When is your next scan?" he asked

"Four weeks today. It feels like ages away!" she sighed

"It'll be here before you know it" he reassured

"My first midwife appointment is two weeks today as well. Just after lunch" she told him

"That's fine, we can work around that" he promised, sensing her worry

"I know... I just... with Philip's behaviour deteriorating, it seems like an inconvenient time for both of us to have the afternoon off work" she sighed

"Stop worrying. If worst comes to worst, we can leave Tom in charge"

"Or Kim" she added

Eddie raised an eyebrow at her sceptically.

"Really? After what happened today with Karla?" he questioned

"She sorted it on her own with no problems" Rachel shrugged

"I still think she should have kept her eye on the ball" Eddie sighed

"Oh, Eddie, stop it!" she scolded

"What? Come on, Rach, you have to agree with me! She was distracted today!" he exclaimed

"But she sorted it" Rachel argued gently

Eddie sighed.

"Are we going to sit here and talk shop all night? Or do you want to hear how our little one is developing?" she added, showing him the cover of the 'Pregnancy Week by Week' book

He smiled.

"Go on, then"

Rachel cleared her throat, snuggling further into his side.

"Congratulations! You have successfully entered month three of pregnancy! You are nearly at the end of your first trimester!

At twelve weeks, your baby is tiny but fully formed. The head and neck are straightening, and their posture is becoming less curled up. Their arms, legs and toes are elongating and are being formed into recognisable shapes.

Your baby is also practicing breathing using amniotic fluid to prepare their lungs for air respiration. They are also developing their reflexes and will begin to open and close their eyes and mouth.

Your baby's face now looks totally human. Their eyes have moved from the sides, to the front of the face,"

"We officially have a human baby!" Eddie joked

Rachel giggled, continuing to read.

"Your baby is about the size of a plum. 5.5cms from head to bottom and weighs around 14 grams.

You may start to notice a reduction in some of the pregnancy symptoms you've been experiencing. It is quite common to experience heartburn at this stage in the pregnancy, due to the high amount of progesterone in the body.

Symptoms of week 12 pregnancy may include:

- Nose bleeds

- Dizzy spells

- Low sex drive

- Increased sense of smell

- Occasional headaches

- Fatigue

- Bloating and gas"

"Well that explains the nose bleed you had today" Eddie pointed out

"It could still be stress-related" Rachel reminded

"I know. But at least we know it's common to have nose bleeds when you're pregnant"

She nodded.

"I definitely don't have a low sex drive!" she giggled

"Considering that we've done it both nights in the last two days, both occasions initiated by you, I have to say I agree" he teased

"I just can't keep my hands off you, Lawson" she whispered playfully in his ear

He smirked, pecking her on the lips.

"Are you ready to head up to bed?" he asked

She nodded with a yawn.

"Come on, then" he replied, standing up and pulling her with him

When they reached their bedroom, Rachel had the urge to go and check on Philip. He hadn't come downstairs once since they'd left for the hospital and she hadn't heard him moving around much. He hadn't eaten either. Checking on him felt like a sensible idea.

Whilst Eddie was getting ready for bed, she made her way up to Philip's room. She knocked gently on the door before entering.

The room was lit dimly by the lamp on his bedside table, meaning that she could only just make out his silhouette in the bed. His back was facing her, but she knew he was awake. His breathing was a little too rapid for him to be sleeping.

"Philip, there's some pasta in the fridge if you're hungry?"

"I'm fine" he mumbled

"Ok, well, it's there if you want it"

She was about to turn away to head back downstairs when she heard him sniffle. The sob that followed was muffled, but she heard it loud and clear.

"Philip, what's the matter?" she asked

"Nothing. Just go away" he replied

Rachel sighed, stepping into the room and closing the door.

"Philip, you're upset, talk to me" she instructed softly

"I'm not upset" he mumbled, refusing to look at her

Rachel sighed. It was evident that he was upset. No one ever cried for no reason, especially Philip, who wasn't good with emotions anyway.

Knowing that she couldn't leave him like this overnight, she sat down on the end of his bed.

"Will you at least look at me when you're telling me that you're not upset?" she requested, softening her tone

He finally sat up. That was when Rachel saw the tear tracks and blotchy skin. He'd been crying, possibly for hours. She couldn't help but feel guilty. It was obvious he was struggling and that was why his behaviour was so appalling. His behaviour today had been violent and he would have to face the consequences of that. But she knew there was more to it. The anger and bad behaviour was just an outlet, a mask to cover how he was really feeling. He was bottling up all of his emotions in an attempt to suppress them and it was just backfiring by them exploding all at once. She could punish him, but she also need to find a way to help him.

"Talk to me, Philip" she instructed gently

"I... I'm sorry for what I said about the baby, Rach. I didn't mean it" he whispered

"I won't say that it's ok, because it isn't, Philip. But I need you to know that me having this baby isn't going to push you out. You'll always have a home here with me and Eddie. We're family, ok?"

He nodded quietly.

"Would you feel more comfortable if you went back to Forest Mount? I know you're uncomfortable being at Waterloo Road. I shouldn't have forced you into it when you were already comfortable where you were"

"No, I don't want to go back there" he confirmed

"Ok, well, we won't send you back there. But this behaviour has to stop, Philip. Eddie and I aren't going anywhere, no matter how much you test the boundaries with us. We aren't going to give up on you. But, as your Head Teacher, if you carry on behaving like this, your education will be in danger. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

He nodded.

"I just... I feel so trapped in my own head and I... I don't know what to do, Rach"

Rachel instinctively pulled him into a hug as he started to sob. She had been in that place before. It was hell, especially when you had no one to save you. But Philip did. Rachel was going to make sure he had the support that she didn't have when she was his age.

"Philip, I know this is hard, believe me, I've been there. But, you have people to help you through this, ok? Eddie and I are here for you, any time. Just talk to us and we'll do what we can to help"

Philip sniffled, wiping his eyes with his hand as he pulled away from her. Rachel had an inkling that it was going to take a lot more than just her and Eddie's support to help him.

"Philip? How would you feel about going to see a Doctor? They'll be able to help and can find ways to support you" she suggested

Philip nodded in agreement.

"Ok. I'll give them a call in the morning then" she decided

"I'm really sorry, Rach" he mumbled

"I know. We're going to fix this. I promise" she reassured

...

It was 11pm when Adam finally got back to his flat, having just done a shift at work. He wasn't surprised when he walked into the living room and spotted Melissa sat on the sofa waiting for him.

A few months ago, he had bumped into a scruffy and miserable looking Melissa in the Supermarket. Wanting to be there for his childhood friend's sister, he had taken her out for a coffee. The story she told him had not been what he had been expecting. Adam had once thought the world of Amanda Fenshaw. His mind had quickly changed when Melissa had told him the trouble and heartbreak she'd caused.

As a result of their chat over a coffee, he had taken Melissa in and helped her to pick up the pieces of her evidently broken heart. He'd helped her to get back on her feet by getting her a job as a waitress at the restaurant he worked at in town, which she seemed to really enjoy. Whilst she hadn't lived with him long, it didn't feel that way. He loved having someone to come home to, to cook for and chat to. Melissa slotted into his life perfectly. He didn't know what he'd do without her now.

"Well? How did it go?" she asked immediately

Adam headed over to the sofa, two glasses of wine in his hand.

"It was... interesting. You were right, the name 'Rachel' doesn't suit her" he replied, handing her one of the glasses

Melissa smirked, sipping her wine thoughtfully.

"Did you get the job?" she asked

"No. It was as we thought. She refused to hire someone she knew" he answered

Melissa nodded.

"What did you find out? I take it by your miserable face that she's not interested in you? No offence"

Adam took a large gulp of his wine. It helped to wash away the pain of Amanda's rejection. The ring on her finger kept playing on his mind. He was sure if she wasn't engaged, things would have played out very differently today.

"She's engaged"

Melissa's jaw dropped. Of all the things she had expected, that hadn't been one of them. Rachel wasn't the type to get engaged. It meant she'd have to settle down, something she was incapable of.

"Engaged? To who?"

"Eddie Lawson"

Melissa almost choked on her wine.

"I think she was having you on! Did she really tell you that?" she questioned

"I saw the ring, Mel. She's definitely engaged. When I asked, she told me it was Eddie"

Melissa laughed in an attempt to mask the jealousy that was bubbling inside her. After she had destroyed her relationship with Marcus, why did she get to be happy? She didn't like Eddie, but just the thought of Rachel being happy after all the trouble she'd caused made her blood boil.

"They are so wrong for each other, it's unreal! He's such an arrogant, judgmental little man. I don't say it very often, but my sister can do a lot better than him!"

"I agree" Adam nodded, unable to keep the bitterness out of his tone

"I take it you met him, then?" she asked curiously

"Yeah. He kicked me out of the school after seeing me with Rachel. He evidently can't handle a bit of competition" he replied with a shrug

"They'll last two or three months, I guarantee it!" she huffed

"I'd give it two"

Melissa smirked.

"What about my brat of a son? Did you find anything out about him?"

"No. She kept her cards very close to her chest"

"I still can't believe he texted me at Christmas. After the way he treated me and choosing her over me..."

"He's got a nerve" Adam finished

Melissa nodded.

"He doesn't deserve you, Mel. You know that" he told her

"I know" she replied quietly

Adam didn't know it, but Melissa was thriving off the attention and sympathy he was giving her. He was so gullible, easy to brainwash and manipulate, he always had been. She had always liked Adam, but he had always had his eyes on Rachel, who couldn't have been less interested. Everyone thought her sister was a wonderful and kind person. Amanda Fenshaw had been popular at school without even trying. As her sister, Melissa was invisible and overlooked. Everyone thought her big sister was perfect, but Melissa knew the truth and now Adam did too. He was finally taking notice of her, not as Amanda Fenshaw's little sister, but as Melissa, the better sister. She had Adam wrapped around her little finger, and she was revelling in it.

"So, what now?" he asked

"I guess we just have to watch and wait" Melissa replied with an innocent shrug

"Wait for what, exactly?" he questioned

"The right moment to make our presence known"

She shuffled closer to him on the sofa, snaking her arms around Adam's neck. He swallowed the lump in his throat when he saw the desire reflected in her eyes.

"You know, Rachel isn't the only one you could date? I'm the fun sister. The better sister. She won't give you what you want. But I can" she whispered seductively in his ear

Entranced by her deep, brown eyes, soft blonde hair and pouting lips, he leaned in. Their lips connected, a fire sparking inside him that he thought would never be ignited unless he was with Rachel. Melissa was funny, she was caring and sociable. She had a wild and colourful personality that made Rachel look dull in comparison. And she took an interest in him, more than Amanda or Rachel had ever done.

Maybe he had got it wrong, maybe he had been in love with the wrong sister the whole time.