It had been another three days of pretending everything was fine, even though they all knew it wasn't. Philip alternated between skulking in his room and spending all day out, apparently with Bolton, although Rachel somewhat doubted this. She couldn't find it in herself to confront him about it however, nor to raise the topic of his mother unless he did first.

Philip was out again, Eddie caught up with sorting some problem he had with his bank account so Rachel took the opportunity to treat herself to a leisurely bath, even adding in more hot water at one point to keep reading her book. But eventually, she had to admit it was time to get out. She didn't even bother to dry her hair, plaiting it loosely back before taking the time to paint her nails, music playing softly in the background.

By the time she began to feel the first stirrings of hunger, she was calmer than she'd been in a while, relaxed as she wandered downstairs to find Eddie. She'd barely made it into the kitchen, however, when there was sudden movement from beside her and Eddie was covering her eyes with his hands, almost knocking them both off balance. "What's going on?"

"A surprise. I thought I had more time." He sounded sheepish.

"What have you done?"

"Come with me."

She could practically hear the smile in his voice, allowed him to guide her outside, over the patio and onto the lawn. "Eddie?"

"Trust me."

A few steps further, until he drew them to a stop and lifted his hands. She blinked, not understanding what she was seeing at first. "What…?"

Eddie grinned. "Do you like it?"

She did. Blankets and pillows were arranged on the grass, small tealights in jars scattered around to light the area. A laptop, paused on a film she couldn't quite make out and as she was looking, Eddie bent down and picked a wine glass up, handing it to her. "Get settled. I have dinner as well."

He vanished back inside, and she sank down to sit on one of the cushions, butterflies exploding within her. Gods, she hoped she didn't ever lose him.

He returned with dinner, and to her joy, Philip too. She wasn't sure if Eddie had planned a romantic night for the two of them, but that fact that he'd stopped to include her nephew and bring him out with him made her heart flutter. She gestured them both over, and caught her nephew's cheeks flushing as he noticed the lights and clear romantic setting that he'd stumbled upon.

"I'm not staying." Philip added as he took his place next to his aunt. His cheeks were tinted red as he interrupted their evening, but couldn't have passed by with the guilt eating away at him. "I just wanted to say I'm sorry."

Rachel blinked at him in total confusion, wondering if it meant he'd been up to no good since he'd left the house. "Whatever for?"

"I've not been dealing with this well, I know that."

He found a piece of fluff on a blanket very interesting all of a sudden, refusing to meet her eyes and Rachel found herself just wanting to take him in her arms and take away his pain. It was hard to have someone in her life who was already so close to being an adult himself. She longed to catch up on the missing childhood that he didn't get due to his mother's constant need to have a male presence in her life, but Rachel knew it was too late for that. She was only able to concentrate on the time she had with him now in the present. "Phil, there's no rule book."

"I know that, but I shouldn't be taking it out on you. You've not caused this, I'm not angry with you." He admitted, hated to think that his aunt may possibly resent him in some way. He was sure that it was nobody's ideal scenario to have a teenager dumped on them, and he didn't want to Rachel to feel the same away about him that his own mum did.

"You can't be angry without whoever you want to be angry with love."

"No Rach, you're not mum. You didn't ask for this, and you deserve better. So I'll be better, I promise. No more moody teenager." Deep down, he was terrified of pushing her too far and being asked to leave. He wasn't sure Rachel would ever do that to him, but the thought still terrified him. If he didn't have her, he had nobody left.

It was as though somebody had taken Rachel's heart from her chest and stood on it in front of her, watching the worry in Philip's eyes and once again cursing her sister. How could anyone do this to their old child? Make a young boy so insecure that he was scared to even be himself? "Listen to me, you don't need to be better." She hoped Eddie's meal could be saved for a later time because for now, she had one thing on her mind and it wasn't the food. "I want you here, with me and with Eddie. No matter what mood you're in, if you've had a bad day or a really good day. We love you Phil." Now she could feel Eddie's presence beside her, a calming addition as his hand held her own.

"She's right lad. You're one of us." Until that point, Eddie had stayed quiet to let them both talk. He knew they both needed this, knew Philip needed some reassurance and Rachel was more than happy to give him that. But now was his time to join in, thrilled that Rachel had included him and offered support from the both of them. He looked over and thought Phil may just combust if he let Rachel continue, knowing that she could go on all night with her reassurance for him. She wanted her nephew to feel safe and loved, he understood that, but her nephew currently looked like he wanted the ground to swallow him whole also. "Why don't you go for a shower? Pick a film for us all to watch when we come in?" Luckily Phil picked up on his thinking, and quickly agreed as he almost tripped over his own feet in a rush to get away from them both.

"I'm sorry your dinner plans we ruined." Rachel fell against his side, laying her head on his shoulder and once again appreciating the view as she finally settled against him.

Eddie let out a small laugh, reaching around her for a plate and holding it in front of her so she stayed in his arms. He held up the food, showing her exactly what he'd prepared. No chef by any means, he'd simply ordered her favourite Chinese meal and plated it up. "Who says it's ruined?"

It was almost a week later that Rachel found herself in a similar situation. Tucked against Eddie as a film played on tv, waiting for a pizza to be delivered, when she heard the sound of a key in the front door. She'd barely managed to lift her head when Philip burst into the room, face contorted and distressed. "She's gone!"

"Who's gone?" Both of them hurriedly sat up, looking at him in concern.

"Mum! She's gone!"

Rachel's stomach fell through the floor. "What?"

The teenager dropped onto the other seat, looking miserable. "She sent me a text, saying that she'd found a good deal on a flight and didn't have time to see me in person before she left, but that you'd look after me. I went to where she was staying, and it's already empty. She left already."

Eddie's jaw was practically on the ground. He couldn't fathom how any mother, any parent could leave their child like this. He'd known Melissa was selfish, but this was a whole other level. What had he seen in her? How had he ever cared?

Rachel had already crossed to sit next to Philip, grasping his hand. "I'm so sorry, love."

"Am I that bad?" He looked at her, upset. "I know I'm not perfect, but am I that bad?"

"Sweetheart, no." She grabbed his other hand as well, held them tightly. "It's not you, I promise. You are not at fault here."

Eddie nodded, leaning forward. "She's right. Your mum… I think she's probably going through some stuff, and she's not thinking clearly because of it." He and Rachel exchanged a glance, and she gave him a small nod. "If she was, she'd never have done this," he continued. Phil looked hopeful.

"You think?"

"I do. She loves you, she's just… in a bad place right now. It wouldn't surprise me if she came back in a few months full of apologies."

With a baby who might be yours, Phil thought. But instead, just nodded. "Okay."

Rachel and Eddie glanced at each other again, a thousand words passing between them unspoken. "I'll be upstairs," Philip said abruptly, pushing to his feet and dashing out the room before either could argue.

Eddie bit his lip. "Did I just lie to him?"

"Twist the truth, maybe." She shrugged, coming next to him. "But for a good cause."

He gripped her hand. "I know she's your sister, but Melissa sucks."

Rachel sighed, leant back against the sofa. "No arguments from me."