Mother Doesn't Know Best
After a very difficult day in Zoe and Max's relationship Max knew that he had to fix the damage his mum had done. He had no idea what it was specifically that his Mum had said but he knew one thing, that he wanted to be with Dr Zoe Hanna and he told her that.
"You can't say that" she responded almost aggressively.
"I just did!"
"Well then you are kidding yourself. We have tried every permutation of this relationship, on, off, friends, lovers, secret lovers but we always end up back here so don't tell me you know what you want because you don't know everything."
"What don't I know?"
"Do you really want to know?"
"I wouldn't ask if I didn't!"
"I can't have children."
Max looked away, suddenly realising why his Mum's comments had caused such a strong reaction from Zoe. Yes, he'd thought about them one day maybe having a little family but it certainly wasn't a deal breaker for him.
Increasingly tearfully Zoe repeated herself "I can't have children." Max had been too caught up in his own thoughts to respond instantly but he knew that he still wanted to be with Zoe and he had to let her know that he was serious about her.
"What if i said it didn't matter?" he responded.
"I wouldn't believe you" Zoe replied tearfully.
"What if i said that you were enough?"
"Don't Max." Zoe wanted to believe him but she'd been hurt too many times before and she found it really hard to believe that anyone, especially a young attractive man like Max, would settle for someone who couldn't give him a family.
"... If I said you were more than enough?"
"What if I said, will you marry me?"
"I would say yes".
They embrace as a tear slipped down Zoe's face. Max held her tightly and her body rocked with gentle sobs. He rubbed her back slowly until she was comforted. When they pulled apart, Max wiped the tears from her face as they both smile at each other.
"Did you just propose to me?" Zoe teased Max as she squeezed his hand.
"Yeah I think I did." He grinned as they began the walk home.
Barely a word was said between them for several minutes until Max turned to her. "You could have told me, you know. It would never have changed anything."
"I guess I just didn't want to take the risk. Sorry, I didn't want to keep it from you but it always pops up and ruins everything."
"Come here." Max wrapped his arms around her waist and gently squeezed her towards him. "Let's get home." They continued to meander home, enjoying the warm evening and feeling secure in their relationship again.
"Do you think your Mum will come round? I don't want to come between you two."
"Don't worry about that, you're the most important person in my life, as I keep telling you."
They reached the flat and headed straight to the bedroom. Still a little subdued from the days events Zoe threw herself down on the bed and sighed. Max lay down next to her and they both lay in silence, looking at the ceiling, no words spoken between them but a silent understanding. Zoe rolled over to face Max with a smile on her face.
"I still can't believe you proposed to me." He stroked her hair off her face and gently kissed her on the head.
"I can't help that you are so irresistible, can I?" he replied with a cheeky grin on his face.
She pushed him on to his back and got on top of him kissing him passionately. He helped her out of her dress and got undressed himself.
They were both so happy to be ending the day in each others arms after everything they had been through. Falling asleep in a tangle of limbs they knew that their relationship was stronger than ever. Maybe it was their differences that made them so perfect for each other.