Here is another chapter of What if? Sorry it took so long to update but from now on I'm going to try to update once a week. This is a longer chapter than the others so it took longer to write. Enjoy.

What if? Chapter 4

"Their father is a man that I'd rather not talk about, he's nobody" she shrugged off.

"Rach..." he began angrily.

"Ok fine, his name is Christopher Meed, I met him after you left" she snapped, she lied, it's not like anyone would remember him. Anyway it's hardly like she could tell him the truth. It's too late for that now, fifteen years too late in fact.

She could see his face fall "Oh" suddenly she saw a flash of anger in his eyes "moved on so quickly? Guess it's not hard to forget me, us. I'm sure you had lots of fun with your man friend. When did you meet him?"

Rachel didn't like what this had turned into but she couldn't stop it she had to finish what she had started.

"A few weeks"

"Well at least I know we meant nothing to you" he shouted.

"Eddie please, quieten down" Rachel hushed strictly, although not phasing Eddie with her attempt at intimidation.

He calmed down, slightly "Fine, I'll see ya later" he said, voice still teething with anger, before trudging back down the corridor to his class, with his fists forced into his pockets.

She knew she was done for 'Why oh why did I say that?" she thought to herself. She's just made a mess of everything. Why does she have to be such an idiot.

She was pulled out of her thoughts by Steph barging through the doors in a panicked state.

"Rachel we have a problem, Dan's gone AWOL" that put Rachel in an almost mental fretting state, nothing good ever came from those words. 'What now?' she thought to herself whilst following Steph through the corridors.

At the start of break Rachel had retreated back to her office for some peace and quiet. She had just got around to starting the piles of paperwork covering her desk when there was a knock at the door.

"Yes" she said distracted. Vivienne her PA and secretary entered the room.

"Your daughters are outside" she said leaning against the white wooden frame of the door.

"Thank you. Bring them in" Vivienne stood in the doorway gesturing for the girls to enter the office then went back outside and shut the door.

"What am I going to do with you girls?" Rachel asked rhetorically. "I am very disappointed at this morning's display and the both of you" despite what their, obviously angered, mother was saying mischievously pair still smirked. "Girls this is not funny so you can wipe those silly grins off of your faces" Rachel said sternly. Rachel stood from her seat and walked around her desk and perched on the front, folding her arms. "Why?" she continued simply, knowing both girls knew exactly what she was talking about.

"Mr Lawson's a crap teacher" Em said.

"That is enough language and I know for a fact Mr Lawson is a very good teacher" Rachel defended.

"How would you know? You said you didn't know him" Jaz argued.

"It turns out I do know him. I used to work with him; here actually"

"But we've never met him"

"That is because I worked with him before you were born" Rachel said with a smile.

"Mum you didn't go out with him did you?" Em asked, both girls with a look of disgust on their faces. They just couldn't imagine their mother actually dating someone.

"That is none of your business" Rachel said with blushing red cheeks, totally embarrassed.

The twins burst out in laughter "Aw mum" Em said sympathetically "Bad break-up?" she continued sarcastically, trying hard not to laugh but failing terribly laughing with her sister.

"Not funny" Rachel said "Now..." she began just as Eddie knocked on, then opened, the door to the office. Rachel looked up to see Eddie standing there and wanted to get the girls out before they said or did anything else to embarrass her. "...We'll talk later girls, go for the rest of break" she said followed by fits of giggles coming from Em and Jaz when they saw Eddie standing at the door as they left the room.

"What was that about?" He asked confused, but a lot calmer than she had expected.

"Eddie..." Rachel started cautiously.

"I'm sorry Rach. I know I over-reacted..." Eddie cut-in.

"No you didn't".

"Yes I did, but can we just be friends again?" he asked with one of his sloppy grins that just made her heart melt.

She smiled. "I'd like that" she answered. "Also I am so sorry again for my girls behavior".

"It's fine" he grinned "Their nearly fifteen, what do you expect?" he chuckled.

"I guess" she agreed.

"So are we still on for the pub later?" Eddie asked with his hands stuffed into his pockets casually.

"Yeah but now I have a very important meeting to get to" Rachel said, standing up from her desk and ordering some paper together.

"I'll see you later" Eddie said before walking out of the office. Rachel quickly sat down in her chair again smiling, she didn't have a meeting. She just needed some time to think.

Just then Chlo Grainger walked into her office, now thirty-three and now having worked at Waterloo Road for close to eleven years. She had two daughters, just like Rachel, Izzy who was fifteen and Frannie who was twelve. Unfortunately she and Donte had divorced six years prior.

"Rachel, it's Daniel he's taken a joy ride in Tom's car"

"What?" Rachel asked frantically "Not again" she said before rushing after Chlo to the car park.

Finally it had reached the end of another day at Waterloo Road Comp. Pupils made their way home whilst teachers made their way to the pub. As Rachel walked out of the front of the school she saw her daughters walking up to the entrance to the gate, so she shouted them over.

"Girls I am going out tonight but I will be back later" she told the pair once they had walked over.

"OK mum" Em said. "Are you going out with Mr Lawson?" she giggled.

"With all the teachers" Rachel answered.

"But you never go out" Jaz stated.

"I know but it's to welcome Mr Lawson back to the school".

"Yeah, whatever you say mum" the pair burst out into giggles and ran to catch up with their friends.

About five minutes later she arrived at the Castle Inn Pub where she could already see most of her staff.

As she walked into she was met with the smell of Alcohol, she wasn't used to it as she didn't really go out much. Actually she never went out, unless with the girls. Walking over to Eddie she was met with may odd looks, well she had expected it. What would she expect when she hadn't been to the pub in nearly four years.

"Hi" Eddie said as Rachel stood next to him at the bar "Drink?" he asked.

"Water"

Eddie looked almost disappointed "Come on Rachel, live a little" Eddie joked.

"Red wine then" she smiled. Once she had got her drink the pair walked over to find somewhere to sit away from the others. Around a corner they found a little nook seat and sat.

"So how have you been?" Eddie asked taking a gulp of his beer.

"You already asked me that" Rachel said.

"But you didn't answer my question" he smirked.

"Yes I did" she defended.

"Not really"

"Well what do you want to know?" she said with a grin.

"I want to know how Waterloo Road has been without me for fifteen years" He smirked.

"I can see your still the same old modest Eddie I remember" she laughed.

"The one and only" he laughed too.

Now eight-thirty both had had a good insight into each others lives, Rachel had told him about how she left for six months after getting married and Max Tyler and the girls. Eddie had told her about working in Manchester and the kids and Melissa being her usual self. The pair had both drank more than their fair share and decided it was time to go home.

Together they wandered outside and stood, choosing to leave their cars until the morning they tried to get a taxi. Rachel looked at Eddie and smiled, she loved being able to see him again and be friends with him. She loved him, however much she wanted to deny it, she truly did. He looked at her and smiled when she saw her beautiful face. He loved her too but didn't want to ruin the friendship between them. If being just friends was what it took to stay with her then that is what he would have to do.

They both saw the other and looked into each other's eyes and they couldn't hold it any longer. Leaning in they kissed passionately. Nothing else in the world mattered to them in that one moment, that one magical moment, all that mattered was each other and the feelings they felt for one another and after fifteen yeas apart those feelings built up and up and now they could just let go. They were so wrapped up in each other they didn't even realize Janeece Bryant, Steph Haydock and Matt Wilding looking out the window watching them.

After a few minutes they separated at the sound of the taxi honking its horn to get their attention. The two jumped apart and awkwardness filled the air. Rachel looked up into Eddie's eyes.

"I've got to go"she said before jumping into the taxi and driving away before Eddie had a chance to do anything. He kicked the wall in frustration, what was he going to do now?

So that was Chapter 4. I hope you enjoyed it. In the next chapter I'm going to bring in some new characters both of my own and the later series. Please Favorite Follow and Review this Chapter. Tell me what you think, good, bad, the best thing you've ever read. Hopefully I'll have the next chapter up next week.